“A boss has the title; A leader has the people.” Simon Sinek
Being a leader is about
- Listening
- Respecting
- Acknowledging
- Acting
Listening
Really listening can be difficult. It is easy to get distracted, especially today with the easy access to emails and text. Many of us now have watches that vibrate when a message or a call comes in. It’s difficult not to look down as we are speaking with someone. Most of the time, the text or email can wait 2 minutes.
Be intentional about focusing on what others are saying. People can tell when we are not listening. There’s a difference between hearing and listening.
Leaders care about others’
- Concerns,
- Thoughts, and
- Feelings.
It is impossible to care about others when we are not tuned in.
Respecting
After listening, be respectful of what others share regardless of whether you agree. Some of their ideas may not align with the current needs but, it is also possible that you cannot see the benefits immediately. Do not close yourself out to the possibilities. Ask yourself, “What if….”
Acknowledging
One of the definitions of Acknowledge is “recognize the fact or importance or quality of.” After listening and respecting what others have to say, acknowledge them and what they shared with you. Acknowledging is not necessarily agreeing. Instead, it’s about saying “I hear you. You are important and what you shared is important.” You may or may not agree, but what people say has value.
Taking action
Actions drive results. There are a few things leaders can do to drive results.
- Communicate clearly with the team. The uncertainty of the unknown, especially today when there is so much uncertainty with Covid, the economy, and global instability, leads to confusion within the team. Even if the communication is “we are figuring it out, and we will keep you informed of changes,” is information that goes a long way in maintaining stability.
- Personal and leadership growth. Invest consistently in your own personal and leadership growth. And, provide the resources for your team to do the same. Increasing the overall emotional intelligence of you and your team almost guarantees success. Psychologist Daniel Goleman outlines five elements of emotional intelligence or EI:
- Self-awareness
- Self-regulation
- Motivation
- Empathy
- Social skills
A team with well-rounded emotional intelligence is a successful team regardless of obstacles.
This is not meant to be all-inclusive but to get you thinking about how you can improve some areas in your business or department.
As leaders, we must be continually growing not only in our areas of expertise but, in our leadership skills too.
I invite you to begin with you, the Leader.
P.S. Do you have obstacles keeping you from moving forward and taking action? Join me and get started on your own results journey. Learn how thinking differently creates different results. Reach out to schedule a consult and learn how we can work together. Contact info: (office) 305-445-0477, (cell) 786-623-8344, or emy@coralgablescounseling.com
P.P.S. Do you want to get on my email list to get all of the things Coaching? Email me at emy@coralgablescounseling.com.
