Leadership can definitely be puzzling at times with the myriad of people & stuff issues we encounter each & every day. It’s more art than science! The world is changing at a speed faster than humans have ever experienced before due largely to technological advances. This fact alone makes our leadership foothold paramount to balancing the needs of the people & enterprise we serve. In taking notes on the leadership sessions, books, videos & podcasts, some of the same themes keep appearing (some are listed in the wordle). These soft skills are so interconnected we often don’t realize when we’re utilizing them. Awareness is the key for those who’ve decided to focus on helping others. Here are some ideas on the “C’s”…Coach, Communicate, Courage, Care, Compassion & Character.
Coach
Think about the best boss you ever had. My bet is they never lost faith in you. They gave you their best so you could be at your best. Whatever their personal style, they knew how to connect with others in order to help develop their talents into strengths. Figuring out our individual approach is critical. Asking for meaningful feedback can be hard but taking it to heart proves even more difficult. When are we at our best? Remember the best you experienced & discover how you’re going to be the best. Strive to be the best coach you ever had or wish you had!
Communicate
How we come across to others can sometimes be a mystery. After all, we are only responsible for how we deliver messages. We are not responsible for how others understand what’s being delivered. However, knowing our audience is something we can know & adjust to. Public speaking is a skill that everyone can learn. It’s utilized each & every day with all kinds of different size groups & dynamics. This skill alone helps us be true to our word & know how to become comfortable when anxiety hits. Additionally, e-mail is not communication, it’s information dissemination & you can’t derive tone from it. You can’t lead from this medium either. True communication happens eyeball to eyeball. Preparing for this takes dedicated thought, ensures we stay impeccable to our word & is a natural extension of the other “C’s”!
Courage
It takes a lot of this to navigate todays work/life balance challenges. The ability to truly embrace change with an open mind can be tough. Great ideas have a shelf life & the things we are doing now were great ideas once. Creating the environment to listen & accept new conceptual thoughts that challenge old great ideas is the key to moving forward. Some routine has to be in place so we can’t change everything but a little now & then won’t hurt, it will help immensely. Avoid being jealous, especially if it’s your great idea that is being questioned, everyone appreciates it when we take the high road!
Care
A mentor of mine shared this thought a few years ago. When a coach/teacher stops being actively involved with a person’s development it’s not that they don’t care it’s just that they know the person has stopped caring. There are many reasons for this of course. But this realization doesn’t mean the coach has given up on the individual. There’s simply an engagement issue or they are ready for someone else to provide meaningful growth focus. They need a new mentor or a new challenge. Hook them up with their next great coach or opportunity & time will show them not only the value you had on their development but that you actually did care. Courageously caring for another is always worth the energy expended for both parties!
Compassion
Everyone we come in contact with is struggling with something we know nothing about unless we ask. Displaying this trait along with some empathy will provide the glue to keep the team together. For me, it’s slowing down to listen. Listening as intently as we desire to share will show kindness & it always works. Seek first to understand then be understood. Displaying a degree of gratitude can also show we appreciate their efforts. Connecting what they’re good at to the work equals maximum engagement. After all, we are human beings not human doings, right?
Character
From a very early age our foundation for life is forged. This is often referred to & described as our character. This is where we must stand tough for what we truly believe in. Discover & re-discover what it is we really value & model it in everything we do. This will lead to what & how we’ll stand up for in our dealing with people. These intellectual differences are the true diversity we need to have patience to understand. The perseverance to find mutual connection points leads to trust in any organization.
The farther away from “doing” we get in our careers the less relevant we become to the enterprise we serve. Not being relevant can be scary because we tie so much of our worth to knowledge gained & accomplishments of yesterday. For organizations to survive long after we’ve gone creating & inspiring new leaders must be the goal. No matter if they stay or go off & do their own thing somewhere else it’s making work/life better. And that’s worth it for sure!
There are so many other aspects of the “C’s” to delve into. For now, these are my thoughts & I’d love to hear yours if you feel inclined. Michael Jordan said, “I can’t accept not trying!” So…take some shots. You’ll miss a few along the way but what we learn will inspire others to do the same!
The man on top of the mountain didn’t fall there!
All the best,
Recent Comments