Best Answer for Great Leadership, Ever.
I write about different leadership topics regularly. Successful leadership practices, being an introvert as a leader, leading your teams, women leaders and so on. I was stopped dead in my tracks when I read the recent post by Jeff Haden on LinkedIn. He tells us a story of his presenting to a whole boat-load of leadership types – CEO’s, top executives and such. All who are bored by this topic – to tears. Yet when Jeff posed this question to the audience of 100:
“In one sentence, what is the key to leading people?”
He got an answer that was totally unexpected and yet, so dead on.
“I think I know,” a man said. He went on, fairly quietly, “No one cares how much you know until they first know how much you care about them. We think we have all the answers, and maybe we do, but that doesn’t matter. No one cares how much you know until they first know how much you care about them,” he repeated. Since no one in the audience made a sound, he continued. “No, really,” he said, sounding more confident. “Yeah, we’re in charge, we talk about targets and goals and visions… but our employees don’t care about that stuff for long. We can try to communicate and engage and connect all we want but no one really listens. They just smile and nod and go back to doing their jobs the way they always do.”
What is the One Answer?
And this is big, really big.
“Our employees don’t really care about what we want them to do until they know how much we care about them. When employees know — truly know — that you care about them, then they will care about you. And when they know you care, then they will listen to you… and then they will do anything for you.”
So, What’s Your Answer?
Sure, you can continue to push your vision, targets, and goals – but when are you going to throw in empathy, compassion, and a level of caring that really matters? In other words, leading with your heart. Yeah, I said it, your heart. I don’t know about any of you, but this is big stuff. And, it does matter, just go out and ask your employees.
As the CEO & Founder of East Tenth Group, Michelle leverages 25 years of business and experience as a strategic advisor and executive coach to help drive actionable people solutions and provide practical insights on business strategy to senior leaders. she and her team and are fiercely committed to the development and growth of people and companies because we believe that when people thrive, business thrives.
Deb Prewitt
It is true. People want to know you care about them. And then they will trust you and support you.
laura
Beautiful and so right on. My clients are all heart~centered~preneurs who believe just this that compassion and intuition will lead them forward! Love it!
Cindy
Leadership is about serving others. Appears the quiet leader who spoke up understood caring and listen will guide service if you allow it. Thanks for sharing this Jeff Haden post.
Lori Manns
Effective leadership is the ability to lead by example with empathy, compassion and teamwork. We’re all human and one of the basic needs is feel valued and appreciated. When people feel you care for and appreciate them, they will support you. This post is spot on.
Jim Buchanan
Really? Business tactical and strategic decisions are made and implemented by how much your self image is bolstered today? There are as many successful leaders who are inclusive in the decion making processes as there are who make the right decisions and expect those in the position to do so to be accountable for their actions to perform. Is it important to develop self worth, but the operative word is “self”. If one does not have the discipline to develop or attain the right skillsets in the workplace, or to have the workplace be the priority while you are there, perhaps you are in the wrong environment. Everyone has the “answer” to leadership-at least for themselves. Everyone is motivated in a different way, but ultimately, the catalyst for motivation may come from outside (the leader) but each determines their propensity to be motivated and led. I concur that leadership topics are addressed ad nauseum and put forth by as many authors as there are readers. Credibility in a leadership role is what motivates me-not a book on the subject, or a clever byline.
Michelle Tenzyk
Jim
Thank you for this thoughtful reply. However, I’m not sure where you are reading/interpreting this post as a focus on “self”. It is clearly a call for leaders to deeply care about their teams, employees and partners. It is by caring for all of them that better decisions are made and strategic direction is set. Congratulations on having found environments and leaders who are inclusive, collaborate and care – they are out there, no doubt, but we need more of them.
Gundekar Bauer
Thank you for the fantastic article. Leadership without care is like a lighthouse without light. You can head a group of people, but in order to move things to the next level, you need to form them, i. e. create a team. While there is several factors for successful teamwork (focus, smart goals, committed leadership, …) a key element in my eyes is mutual trust between the leader and the team and the team and amongst the team members. One element to “light the fire” and build sustainable trust and confidence is deep and sincere care for the people working for you, and their payback will be dedicated following and going the extra mile. This is what it takes to be a successful team.
Lilia Lee
Thank you for the post. Nowadays, I only have virtual staff. And even then, it is important that they know we care about them in order for them to work their best for us.