Before we go any further, it must be stated that leadership should never be confused with management.
Because management is about control, whereas leadership is about development.
Nothing is developed through management. Maintained, sure. Developed, never.
And you cannot ‘manage’ another human being. I think so much of the working world gets this wrong and it’s so fundamental. This is one of the most requested discussion topics from my clients, and one of the reasons I’m so passionate about it.
I’m also passionate about the people I work with – and I’m grateful they are equally passionate about me. I also understand how important it is to consistently learn to be a better leader and coach.
That is why team development, engagement and collaboration are at the heart of everything I do.
Workplace success requires a true understanding of how to properly care for the co-existing requirements of our work and lives.
Because life happens during work hours. According to the the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, we spend more time each day at work than on any other single activity.
That means we spend more time each day with our coworkers than with anyone else in our lives – including our family and friends.
For this reason, the level of engagement we feel is the single most critical factor supporting our success at work.
In other words, work matters. The way we work matters. The way we work with each other matters.
Leadership in action
Successful employee lifecycles lead to successful business outcomes.
Period.
Employees are the lifeblood of every business. Thus, the employee experience is essential to everyone’s bottom line.
The successful leadership of my team requires constant support and development year-over-year. This means providing everyone on the team opportunities for growth and advancement.
Central to this is creating a supportive environment focused on personal growth that gives everyone the opportunity to advance and support the metrics that drive business.
The world of work is very small – remember that. It’s important.
Your reputation is your professional currency. Think of it as your personal user rating.
Over the course of your career, you will run into people who have worked with you, with someone else who has worked with you or with someone who knows you through an acquaintance, current/former colleague, social connection, etc. A six-degrees of separation for the work world.
So, the quality of your output & the quality of your character are equally important.
Being trusted to lead people is not a job to take lightly. However, we all know far too many people in such positions who should not be there.
Google ‘why people quit’ and you’ll get no fewer than 9 million results with the same information: People quit bad bosses, not companies.
Thought leadership
In order to truly be a better leader, it’s vital to be an active listener to – and champion of – your team. In addition, it’s also important to be part of the discussion about the nature of work.
As a result, I’ve had the pleasure to talk about employment-related issues with writers from Recruiter.com, NBCnews.com, Business Management Daily, Inc.com and more.