I can be passionate, intimidating, and can sometimes drown out other people. I’ve learned along the way through my outdoor education experience that there are many different leadership styles that can be effective. I’ve worked to embrace other styles that may not be my most obvious or natural style. If one’s personality or leadership is not conducive to raising other people up, then perhaps it’s time to get out of the way.
Becoming a better listener. Emerging sages are increasingly able to assess the role that effective communication plays in their leadership:
In looking back there were times I thought I knew something and then realized I was not always right, that my way was not always the best. So I think just sitting down and listening is important. And allowing people to be part of a process enables them to embrace it rather than being told what to do.
I have always been a strongly opinionated person and rather upfront with them. I’d like to think I am gearing more towards listening and letting my opinions be known in gentler ways. It’s an ongoing process, as communication is so important in all of our choices and relationships.
I’m starting to listen to people’s advice more. When I give direction to people, I am getting better at helping them to succeed at their job while allowing them enough freedom to take ownership in the ultimate outcome.
Learning to value and care about other people. In their once popular book, In Search of Excellence, Tom Peters and Robert Waterman describe an interview situation where the interviewer asks the prospective hire what his strongest interest is. The interviewee answered, “People,” to which the interviewer said, “Well that’s good, because that’s all we have here”.
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