Robert Greenleaf in his book Servant Leadership observed that, “to be a good leader, you must first become a good servant.” The ability to connect, collaborate, and create together is one of the fundamental aspects of servant leadership. It’s about bringing out the best in everyone.
Companies are spending billions of dollars on training and development programs and their investments are not paying off. The reason is simple. After the first flush of excitement with new learning, people quickly revert to their old habits and ways, Simply put, it’s easier. It’s familiar. And people hate change!
In today’s business environment we need leaders who are not only competent and capable, but are also courageous, compassionate, and conscious of the impact they have on their teams, and the world in which they live
Without conscious leadership that focuses on supporting people to be the best they can be, that creates values for the company and the shareholders, it is impossible to build a culture that cares.
In order to stay competitive in today’s world, there is a powerful need to accelerate Individual Consciousness in order to transform business and build a culture of caring in the workplace. Care for each other, care for the company, and care for the ways we impact the world around us.
Without the ability to concentrate on developing a ‘we’ culture, we will continue to struggle with how to develop membership, empowerment and meaning among the people we count on the most. Without a sense of belonging, we feel dislocated. Without a sense of empowerment, we feel like puppets on a string. Without a purpose, there can be no meaning to the life we live or the work we do.
How many leaders and organizations overlook these simple facts, and why is it so difficult to engage the decision makers in helping to make these changes?
The primary target for change in any organization has to start with senior leadership. When changing the system to both support and demand new behaviors that enable learning and improve effectiveness and performance, it is essential that the example is set from the top downwards.
When a team of senior leaders effectively guide and navigate the rapids of changing conditions and evolve to balance the needs of the people who support the organization, and the customers they serve, innovation and rapid growth occurs throughout the ranks, and the three innate needs of all human beings for membership, empowerment and meaning are met.
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As a leader, you have an impact on everyone around you. When you communicate with everyone, how you choose to communicate is the key to making or breaking strong bonds of trust within the team. You are responsible for how you listen and communicate with people, and how you respond to them.
Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will forget how you made them feel.”
Make someone feel good today. Pay them a compliment, notice the work they are doing, ask them if they need help, and most of all…listen to them as if they are the most important person in the room.