Four Things That Propel Leaders Forward
A recent Inc. article caught my attention. It describes four items that are vital for leaders and team members to be successful in their careers.
Develop people. I would add: also be willing to be developed. This is a two-way street. We must be willing to develop others, but we also must be willing to engage in development. As an educator and consultant, it is amazing that some people are unable or unwilling to embrace a growth mindset. A question to consider to break through this mindset is: How might this development help? When we encourage improvement, improvement likely occurs.
Develop Trust. This is an aspect of leadership that b3 Remarkable shouts from the mountain top. It was not until I spent several years doing executive coaching that I truly realized the importance of trust to individuals and organizations. It is imperative that leaders strive to develop assurances among their teams. This trust is what creates an atmosphere of safety and vulnerability within an organization. It allows people to communicate openly and develop into their greatest potential. It also reduces turnover and helps to maintain organizational memory.
Respect Others. This is the third characteristic that will lead to a stronger individual and stronger organization. We all bring something to the table. Everyone knows more about something than you do, and therefore if you embrace respect, seek out their knowledge, and strive to learn from them, you as an individual and as a team improve.
Listen More. This is the final behavior that will improve our ability to influence and lead others. Amazingly enough all we want is to be listened to. When we are heard we are often willing to follow, lead, and create results that are bigger and better than ever expected. Listening requires us to shut our mouths and open our ears and minds. It helps us to understand what the other person is saying with both their words and their body language.
These four key behaviors will not develop overnight. It will take time and they will get stronger as we practice. If “The Talent Code” is correct, it will take 10,000 hours to develop people, develop trust, gain and offer respect, and listen intently. Don’t give up. Start today and it will be easier to become a leader that inspires, influences, and achieves amazing results tomorrow.
“Pick a different number for each day of the work week. Focus on that ideal for the day. On the fifth and final day, see if you can embrace all four without lapsing.”
