Source: Dan Rockwell
How has your leadership changed? My wife brought the topic up yesterday. I turned the topic back to her. “How do you think I’ve changed?”
She said, “You’re more of a leader and less of a
controller.” I didn’t take offense at the suggestion that I’m a control
freak. I was and still feel the inclination. Perhaps it’s necessary as
long as it’s managed.
Release:
Successful leaders release rather than control.
Leaders understand where others want to go and find
alignment between personal and organizational vision. I used to believe
leadership was about me. Now I believe it’s about them and their
values. Shared values enable people to find alignment with each other.
Releasing is more joyful and less stressful.
Conversations are more about others and less about me. Ego
plays a part in making this shift. Needing the spotlight prevents
leaders from focusing on others.
Managing emotion matters:
Releasing others requires emotional control. Tempering your
emotions gives room for others. Strong emotion causes others to pull
back or feel the need to conform. But calm leaders provide space for
others.
Small doses of strong emotion are effective but calm
optimism works better over the long haul. I enjoy heated discussion but
it intimidates some. They close down. Lowering my tone, intensity, and
volume lets others speak up.
If you’re not emotionally expressive, you may need an
opposite approach. People want to know how you feel but they don’t want
to be bowled over.
Simplicity:
I’m more committed to simplicity than ever. Complexity
makes leaders feel important, but success requires a series of simple,
small wins achieved at regular intervals. Momentum is a series of small
wins.
Simplicity releases. Complexity paralyzes.
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