Individual Leadership: What do people need from you as a leader today?

Most leaders come to work thinking about everything they need to do that day. The best leaders think about what others need from them to reach higher levels of performance. A few months ago, I worked with an executive team to explore this very question. Here are some things you are likely to hear your colleagues need from you:

• Clarify high-level thoughts and make them pragmatic and actionable
• Prioritize and focus - and work with me to do the same
• Listen to what I have to say so we can make strategic decisions together
• Inspire me, or at least don’t be uninspiring (overly critical, disengaged, etc.)
• Define clear expectations of performance and be precise about the work to be done

Consider where you need to clarify, prioritize, listen, inspire, and define. It will help you answer the question of how to provide strong leadership today.

Organizational Leadership: How Executives Lead Powerful Meetings - In Person And Virtually

Last month I shared three approaches to making your meetings more effective. Turns out it’s a popular topic, as I heard from several current and past clients wanting more help with this. 

Most of you face a conundrum when it comes to meetings. It’s become cliché that most people say they hate meetings. It’s also the widely accepted default for doing just about anything, especially with our newfound habit of videoconferencing. Executives are in meetings on average for around 23 hours a week. Based on the responses to my last newsletter, that estimate is very conservative.

But we’ve known about this and have seen ideas from clear agendas, sharing pre-read materials, to standing up instead of sitting, and so forth. Yet leaders continue to face the same issues. If you want great meetings, it requires something more. I’ve expanded on the three strategies I shared last month in this Forbes article.

Leadership in the World: Quiet Quitting; A Distinction Without Much Difference

I’ve seen at least a dozen articles in major publications in the last month about Quiet Quitting. It’s such a popular topic that my mom, who is retired, texted me that she had heard of this and thought it might make for an interesting article. 

It’s easy to attribute Quiet Quitting as a new trend due to the pandemic or other economic factors. But the truth of the matter is that Quiet Quitting has been around for a long time. We’ve simply created a new term for colleagues that are not engaged. A distinction without a difference. 

The economic environment and current attitudes toward work are unquestionable influences here. But most people are still not able to quit their jobs outright. So, the way to address Quiet Quitting is not a new mystery to be solved. You know the answers. Most of them relate to the leadership you provide and how you keep your colleagues engaged.

LinkedIn Live: How Executives Lead Powerful Meetings - In Person and Virtually

Join me on Tuesday, September 20, at a new time of 3pm Eastern to discuss how executives can lead powerful meetings, in person and virtually.

In the meantime, click here to watch my latest Linkedin Live Recap on how motivating people starts with building emotional connections.

Perspective: Making Others Feel Heard

By now, you’ve mastered the art of active listening. Most of us listen to comprehend details, facts, and so forth. It’s a key to gaining a clear understanding when we are exchanging information and making decisions.

But there is another equally important element of listening that allows someone to feel heard beyond simply understanding what’s being said. It requires you to reflect on your understanding and acknowledge their perspective. What’s more, you’ve got to do it without judgment, even if you disagree. It’s exponentially more powerful if you can do this empathetically. 

The easy answers are all used up at your level, especially when you are dealing with emotionally charged topics. Listen well by making sure others feel heard as much as you do on your understanding of the details.

Suggested Reading: Getting Along by Amy Gallo

My colleague and friend Amy Gallo is releasing her new book, Getting Along, on September 13. I think of this book as a modern How to Win Friends and Influence People. But better. The ideas are more sophisticated and nuanced, and they’re supported by research and practical application. Even a savvy leader will find a few new approaches to fostering collaborative relationships and working with more challenging people.