Leadership is like dieting—there is always a new fad that promises success, but as we know, fads come and go, and success remains as elusive as ever. I’ve always found leadership to be quite simple by following the essence of the Law and the Prophets – do unto others as you would have them unto to you – put simply, treat other people with the concern and kindness you would like them to show toward you. That being said, throughout my corporate life, I’ve been fortunate to receive much leadership development training and think that to be a successful leader there are three core qualities.
First and foremost is TRUST. Trust is the foundation of any relationship and if it is not present, the relationship will not be able to flourish. I learned there are four pillars for building trust. Credibility is earned by expertise, by the ability to obtain the required expertise, and by being up-front about one’s limitations – being able to do what you say you can do. Reliability is consistency and dependability – doing what you say you are going to do. Openness is about developing authentic relationships and understanding the sensitivities of others. Motivation is the perceived intent engaging with others.
The second is COURAGE. Sometimes it takes courage to ask, courage to challenge or courage to say it like it is. It is important to be bold and speak up, however big or little the issue is. When done compassionately and constructively, the outcome is often profound.
Finally, the third is CONNECTION. Being ability to develop a sincere affinity with those whom you work with and between others in the team. Connection goes beyond superficial personality traits, likes, dislikes or shared interests but is about sharing or understanding values, beliefs, life goals and even dreams and hopes. It’s about creating the right environment so the people you work with feel confident and safe.
My passion has always been people and I’d like to think that throughout my career in HR I’ve helped many people become the best version of themselves. This new chapter is very much linked to helping people become the best version of themselves – the way you feel about the way you look can be related to confidence, happiness and even mental health and I look forward to helping you become the best version of yourself.
If you are interested in leadership development or hearing about my experiences as a leader, don’t hesitate to get in touch – I’m still passionate about this topic and available for events.