Leadership is like a formula and the prime elements of the formula are planning, delegation, and control. Planning is the most important part of leadership. And it is essentially about having a vision and a set of objectives, and building a team that has the drive to attain them. An ideal plan should be able to provide a clear blueprint for the members of an organisation.

	Going By The Book
	The Patton Formula

Planning is to be followed by delegation. No leader can do everything on his own. He has to delegate work to his team members and entrust them with responsibilities. This will not only help him to successfully operationalise his vision, but also help bring the skills of each individual member of his team to the forefront.

Now, it's the turn of the leader to review the progress of his plan on a periodic basis. This means that he should always be in control of the situation. This is a necessary step as it will send out the right message to the team and make them aware of the fact that their work is always being monitored, and that they are answerable to someone at all stages of a plan's implementation. It would also ensure that work proceeds according to the original plan.

While this is a time-tested procedure that ensures success, a leader has to ensure the entire team's participation. He should constantly motivate and counsel his team. Apart from this, it is necessary on the part of the leader to communicate the progress of his plan to the other sections in the organisation as well as to his company's stakeholders.

Last, but not the least, a leader has to manage the overall environment of his company-both internal and external-to facilitate the progress and growth of the organisation.