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If we are to become business leaders who lead with wisdom, respect, resilience, and strength, we must study the actions of the great leaders who preceded us. Finding these parallels between past and present has always been a successful learning tactic for me. Leadership in the modern age is not a task for the faint of heart, and it is at this point that effective leadership becomes essential to the well-being of an organization.
Over the years, as an entrepreneur, co-founder, and CEO, I’ve learned some significant lessons from other people I use over and over again in business. I hope you find them as beneficial as I am.
1. Lead with empathy
From empathetically leading her country through natural disasters and a global pandemic, to adopting climate and gender equality policies, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has earned my admiration as to a leader who puts empathy at the forefront.
Empathy can be one of the most difficult emotions to take advantage of when we are buried by both personal and professional demands. However, following Jacinda’s example, I have discovered that when we can approach a challenge with empathy and patience, teams offer opportunities to build trust and stronger relationships with each other. Being an empathetic leader seems like being curious and listening deeply with the intention of learning from those around you. It’s important to make sure teams feel heard in a safe way and to fully recognize how they feel.
Related: Why empathic leadership is more important than ever
2. Prioritize transparency
When I think about how to increase communication and clarity within an organization, I remember Aaron Levie, the CEO and co-founder of Box, known for being one of the most transparent leaders in Silicon Valley. For Aaron, transparency is key to a successful business model, and he practices it by conducting weekly progress meetings with more than 100 internal directors of the company where they completely review areas of business that are working well and may have problems. .
Being as honest and transparent as possible with your computers requires a certain degree of vulnerability. When transparency prevails in the workplace, you can connect with your teams on a more authentic level and see them beyond their professional successes. To me, transparency can seem like frequent meetings or weekly calls with stakeholders and team members, openly communicating the changes that are taking place in daily processes and effectively preparing teams to be proactive in achieving their goals. targets. This form of communication works in both directions. In addition to being a resource for others and willing to share your knowledge and opinions, being a leader also means being open to the feedback and ideas of your teams.
3. Take the example
A captivating leader is self-aware, someone who lives with integrity and lets his actions speak far more than his words. This kind of server leadership has been seen on the world stage recently with how the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has continued to lead his people throughout the conflict with Russia.
In addition to being an extremely direct communicator with other world leaders, he also groups alongside his people while remaining in office. The determination he has instilled in his constituents is extraordinary. Observing President Zelensky’s leadership through both strength and vulnerability this year is a clear reminder of the kind of leader we can all seek to be more like.
Related: Lead for example: 7 ways you can be a bad example to your employees
4. Develop resilience
Leading a team strategically is more than having state-of-the-art computers, a basic mission statement, or a captivating business model. While all of these things certainly help a company thrive, the true resilience of a team comes from its ability to respond to adversity and disruptions with innovation and integrity.
There are few leaders more resistant to our history books than Nelson Mandela, who after 27 years in prison for fighting apartheid, became South Africa’s first elected president in an election. fully representative democracies in 1994. His famous quote: “It always seems impossible. until it’s over,” speaks of the power of being resilient. It has become a true symbol of resilience for many business leaders, highlighting the power of all of us not only to endure, but to persevere in the face of adversity and adversity.
5. Create inspiration
The ability to inspire others is one of the most important skills a leader can have. There are many admirable leaders and CEOs, but there are only a handful of leaders who can instill energy, passion, and connection to their daily actions and behaviors.
Inspiration is what drives us forward, and whether you’re inspired by the elected officials on the world stage, CEOs who have paved the way for large and small businesses, or members of your team in the office, I hope that you find moments. of inspiration in all this and you can apply it to your business goals.
Related: 7 characteristics of inspirational leaders