Definition of a true leader
The word “leader” often conjures up an image of a driven, successful, almost super-human person who has the power to shape the world around them with their ample amounts of charisma, work ethic, intelligence, and powers of persuasion.
Leaders are looked up to in times of crisis, and they are counted on to keep a level head in any situation. This status sometimes lends an air of invulnerability to these people; they are sometimes seen as not possessing human flaws and emotions. That cannot be further from the truth – no matter how confident and head-strong leaders can seem, they feel the same fears, indecisiveness, and insecurities that we do. They may put on a facade of invincibility, but they are just as human as you and me.
Of course, your team may not necessarily see things in such a logical light. As a leader, your team is not just going to look to you for guidance – they will also expect support. The way in which you present yourself to your team will have an impact on how they perform in the workplace. It is a fact that employees are happier and more productive when they know that they are supported and valued. Treating your employees as though they only exist to meet your own goals is no way to earn their loyalty and support.
Humanising yourself to your team means dropping the invincibility act and opening yourself up as human being they can relate to. If your team sees you as having qualities they can relate to, they will not see you as weak – they will only respect you more. If you see yourself as falling short of that goal, these following tips might help break the ice.
1) Be Authentic
Managers who dress in nice suits and repeat tired corporate buzzwords are a dime a dozen. While some people mistakenly think that this is what a good manager does, it actually makes you indistinguishable from the herd of people that also think this way. Do not be afraid to show emotion. Do not be afraid to make mistakes, or to let your team make mistakes too. And do not spend all of your time focusing on superficial details, because it will come at the expense of actual substance. Your employees do not want a person that comes off as overly slick, because it will only make them think that you cannot be trusted. Exposing yourself as honest and imperfect will go a long way towards gaining the trust of your team.
2) Give everybody a chance to improve
Yes, that means you too. You might be the boss of other people, but that does not mean that you are above any kind of criticism, nor does it mean that you cannnot make any serious mistakes. Leaders who perceive themselves as being better than their subordinates rarely perform as well as those who do not. Merely acknowledging your own shortcomings as a person will go a long way towards improving your team’s perception of you as a person, as well as promoting your own personal growth as a leader.
3) Connect
Your employees are not machines – they are people like you and me. Maintaining a professional distance from your employees is expected, and it is not being suggested that you get overly friendly with the people who work for you. What is advisable is for you to show a genuine concern for them as people, and understand that their own experiences and lives can have an impact on their performance at work. Showing a concern for them as individuals will make them trust you and support you. Humanising your workforce is what many companies that suffer from high turnover and low morale often lack.
Does this resonate with you? If you would like to book a complimentary, no-obligation, coaching session to discuss this further, please email me at falgunidesai@actioncoach.com