History has led us to believe that leadership is a position of power and authority. An elevated place where you can be directive and autocratic simply telling people what to do, and how to do it. People have accepted leaders who ridicule, judge and act in a condescending way for fear of losing their jobs. Some leaders truly feel untouchable. But the reality is leadership is a position of responsibility. It requires that the person take ownership of their position and guide and support their followers.
In today’s business world, there is a disconnect between leadership and being human.
“Traditional leadership” is about influence, authority, and power. The primary focus is on performance, results, profitability, and deadlines. True leadership is about being authentic, listening, and leading with heart. The primary focus is on the people and recognizes performance and profits will follow because of being respectful and valuing humans.
I have experienced firsthand the success an organization can have by focusing on the people and their well-being. It has an impact and changes peoples’ lives. Somewhere we have lost our human connection. We have become distracted by success, wealth, and material things forgetting the importance of loving and caring about other humans. We must awaken to how we can contribute in a meaningful way. We must recognize how when we lead with empathy, heart, and kindness it will positively influence the lives of others.
Isn’t being human about connectedness anyway?
When humans connect an authentic bond is formed, people feel an exchange of positive energy and trust begins to build. When we connect as humans, we feel heard and seen, which in turn gives us a sense of belonging.
We no longer live in a world where you can “tell” an employee what to do and they will just do it without question. Employees want to feel valued and respected.
Loyalty, job security, and gratitude for having a job are no longer the norm. Employees want deeper, more meaningful connections to what they do and how they do it. Employees expect support and guidance and are expressing deeper emotions in their work.
We have moved into a time where respect, trust, and accountability are valued more than spreadsheets and performance metrics. Please do not misunderstand this is all relevant and important to the success of any business but cannot continue to be the primary focus. Trusting the process of caring for your people first and knowing the results will follow is the new way of business.
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