Leadership: It’s All in Your Mind
Leadership: It’s All in Your Mind
Major events like elections are opportunities to observe leaders – from the “boots on the ground folks, to those running for significant leadership positions.
We vote in all elections around the world for leaders we hope will do the right thing for the people they serve.
Leadership requires specific qualities best defined by Don Tapscott in his TED Talk, The Four Principles for the Open World – Collaboration, Transparency, Sharing and Empowerment. He shares insights on the importance of a world that is more open and transparent.
Leadership in politics, organizations, both for-profit and non-profit, and with our families requires that we embrace these four qualities because how else will we grow and try to understand someone else’s point of view.
Not an easy exercise but imagine how much healing would take place and how much learning would occur if we created a plan for how these four qualities are embraced. This is so necessary.
Which takes us to Leadership. Do you think of yourself as a leader? Do you enjoy leading? As you were growing up, did people tell you that you had natural leadership qualities?
If you don’t see yourself as a leader, know that you are leading and probably don’t even know it. Why? Because we are all leaders simply because of our influence. Whatever you believe, think, value, feel, or say influences your behavior. These are all the result of your mindset, and your mindset affects the impact you have.
This attitude determines much of our behavior, and our behavior produces specific results. Are we getting the results or having the impact we want, or are we experiencing unwanted results and outcomes? By looking at the relationship between our mindset, our behavior, and our impact we can integrate all three components in an effective and satisfying way. We can incorporate leadership qualities and engage in leadership behaviors that generate the results we really want.
Your impact may be subtle, or it may be profound; it may be small, or it may be big. Observe your impact as it’s reflected back to you, and observe your mindset as it fills your thoughts, shapes your attitudes, and changes the world around you. As you recognize situations where you’re aware of the impact you’re having on others see how your assumptions either guide you in the process or create disconnects along the way. Also see which listening tips will help.
The Impact of Assumptions on Leadership
We all make assumptions. We naturally fill in gaps in what we think and perceive so that we can make sense out of our world and our experiences.
Sometimes the assumptions we make are accurate; sometimes they are not. And the reality is, assumptions are powerful. They can build bridges or destroy them. They can make peace or start a war.
As a leader, you have an obligation to notice the assumptions you make, both good and bad, and verify them for accuracy, especially if they are negative and could affect someone else’s life, career, or wellbeing.
The first step is to notice when you have an assumption. Once you notice that you are making an assumption, communicate it so you can get confirmation or clarification. Although this may be uncomfortable, it creates an opportunity for both parties to share their perceptions and clarify any inaccuracies or miscommunications.
We all make assumptions, and as leaders, we want to ensure that are assumptions are grounded in truth.
Give Everyone an “A”
The book, The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life, by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander, talks about a concept called "giving an A" which suggests that we simply choose the perspective of seeing everyone, including ourselves as having great potential.
People rise (or fall) to our level of expectation. Imagine what would happen if you gave an A to anyone and everyone —your spouse, children, employer, co-workers—even strangers.
It is easy to fall into the habit of judging others for not living up to what we think they are capable of or how they should act. We then end up labeling them as C’s, D’s or even F’s. But what if we viewed them through the eyes of the potential they do have? What if we gave them an A right from the beginning and treated them accordingly? What sorts of relationships would you have, and what types of results would you get?
It’s really a matter of perspective.
Effective Listening for Leaders
Whether you are the leader of your home or a major corporation, effective listening is a skill that will help you to enhance your relationships with others and be a better leader. Being an effective listener has many benefits as it influences the entire dynamic of your team. It can lead to more effective teamwork, higher productivity, fewer conflicts and errors, enhanced innovation and problem-solving, and more.
Studies in Emotional Intelligence (EI) have determined that leaders actually “infect” the workplace (for better or for worse) with their attitudes and energy. To create an environment of collaboration and productivity consciously and intentionally, leaders need to be good listeners and communicators.
Being an effective listener is not that difficult, but it is one of the most underutilized skills we have. To be a more effective listener, try these simple tips:
Be genuinely curious.
Seek first to understand.
Ask questions to clarify.
Repeat back what you have heard.
Quiet your self-talk and focus on others.
Maintain eye contact.
Use body language that says you are open and interested.
Don’t interrupt.
By practicing just a few simple listening techniques, you can dramatically change the environment of your home or office.