What leadership means and what we need to do to be better leaders.
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Organizations change. They have to in order to address the changing needs of those they serve; the end customer, the stakeholders and the employees. We’ve heard all our lives that “change is inevitable” – “change before you have” – “the only constant in life is change.” So why do so many of us find change to be hard? If you dig deep enough, at the heart of matter is “fear.” And if that is at the heart of the matter, then that is where great leaders have to begin to lead, from the heart, speaking to the heart, and, yes, connecting at the heart level.
Sounds a bit woo-woo in the corporate word today but, is it? Or is it time to reflect on our own fears as a leader. As a leader, are we leading out of fear; running to stay ahead of the lions? Or, are we running towards something, perhaps a vision your entire team and believe in? Whichever way we lead our people will follow. They will follow you out of fear, or they will follow you towards a shared vision. Rest assured, it’s what’s in your heart that speaks first verbally or non-verbally in work, at home, in life.
I am sure you have heard it many time, “It takes courage to lead.” If we look at the root of the word courage we find that it means “to share one’s truth with an open heart.” Yes, it does take courage to lead and there is nothing woo-woo about that.
