6 Habits That Will Make You an Unforgettable Leader
Marcel Schwantes
I help CEOs overcome complex leadership challenges, driving stronger teams and greater profits.
This is an Inc. Magazine update from the best of my column, read by 1.5 million people monthly. To receive future editions directly, join today.
If you aspire to be a leader or currently manage people, there are clear signs of exceptional leadership. The issue is that the essential qualities of effective leadership are not typically taught in business schools or demonstrated in most corporate cultures. This leads to widespread misconceptions and false beliefs based on outdated management practices that are no longer effective.
If you're thinking bravado, swagger, charisma, "executive presence," and positional authority are the way to go, I'm about to disappoint you. Those things don't sustain influence over people. After a while, people?under your care will?catch on to your act and see the outward brash as only skin deep.?
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You have to go deeper than that, way deeper. You have to be willing to lead from an authentic place where your heart connects to the hearts of others in a way that manifests both great relationships and results.
What are we talking about here? What type of leaders do employees enthusiastically follow? Let's take a look at six key human leadership traits.
1. Don't be afraid of being wrong.
Human leaders take a stand not because they think they're always right?and use that to push their weight around but because they aren't afraid of being wrong! Contrary to the self-absorbed boss who?proclaims his position?and disregards differing opinions or points of view, human leaders with loyal followers are secure enough to back down graciously when being proven wrong. To them, it's more important to find out what is right than?being?right.
2. Listen more than you speak.
Want to hear an insecure leader at work? Easy, just listen to their bragging--a mask for their insecurity. Confident leaders are unassuming and know what they think; they want to know what?you?think. They ask curious questions--how something is done, what you?like about it, what you need in order to be better, more productive. Sure, they may know a lot of stuff, but they seek to know even more from their tribe?by listening to their ideas, suggestions, and perspectives on things. That's being a human leader.
3. Celebrate other people's accomplishments.
Want the fast track to unforgettable human leadership? Stop seeking the glory and validate your followers instead. You do that by shining?the spotlight on others and celebrating?their accomplishments, which helps boost their confidence and their trust in you.
4. Seek advice.
Human leaders seek advice or input from their trusted inner circle, which may even include a few valued employees who report to them! They surround themselves with a select few mentors and advisors they can lean on for guidance and direction in life and business.?
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5. Give employees ownership.
Human leaders invest?in close relationships,?build?trust over time, and let their team members feel like they're invested in the business.?They give them ownership and engage their workforce in an entrepreneurial way. When people take ownership of their work--like they're business partners--employee satisfaction soars. They become loyal followers.
6. Recognize people for their contributions.
A human leader never flies solo or plays for the name on the back of her?jersey. She?will always acknowledge successes as a team effort and will make it a priority to recognize people for their hard work, both in public and private. An employee who sees this leader in action not seeking self-glory but building up others will typically be more willing to follow that leader. That makes her unforgettable.
Your turn: What other traits of "human leadership" would you add to this list? Leave a comment and let's learn from each other.
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About Marcel Schwantes
Marcel Schwantes is a global speaker, executive leadership coach, author, podcast host, and syndicated columnist with a worldwide following. Follow him on Substack for Inc. Magazine articles (no paywall or ads), exclusive videos, leadership strategies, and more.
Leadership Coach | Retention Expert | Creator of Leadership Advance: The Un-Retreat for People-Centered Leaders | Retain top talent & attract the best | Passionate about work-life balance & making every game count!
4 个月A fascinating thing about our hearts, Marcel Schwantes. Our hearts generate a magnetic field. Actually, all of our organs do, but the heart is the only one where that field extends beyond the body by about four feet. When you are in close proximity to your team, your heart and their hearts are exchanging information via their magnetic fields. Additionally, they are syncing. So, when you as a leader lead from the heart, or lead with love, your heart's generative rhythm is influencing and syncing positively with the other hearts. Heart-based leadership takes on a whole new perspective with this information.
Cities planner at Ministry of Housing & Urban Planning
5 个月Great advice!
"Empowering Healthcare Providers Through Expert Medical Billing & Revenue Cycle Management Solutions
5 个月Well said!
Human Resources Professional
5 个月7. Manage your leadership approach more than you manage people. Consistency and innovation in your leadership approach backed up by discovering new approaches will make you a great leader. Most leaders do not want to be managed , instead they want to be led to great achievements. Focus on managing results through people rather than managing people to get results.
I help Trailblazing Leaders become THRIVING Leaders - in English, German, Portuguese, Spanish, so they can have a fulfilling career & a freakin' amazing life. RISE TO LEAD Podcast host, Speaker, #1 Bestselling Author
5 个月Agreed, and I think most leaders have heard about these desirable behaviors repeatedly. The challenge lies in their implementation. "Don't be afraid of being wrong." is a big one in our current times. Most leaders don't have the courage to admit they were wrong and behaving wrongly in 2020/21. They are afraid to admit that they did not make an effort to get informed well/correctly and just went along with an agenda that was outright wrong, very obviously lacked any fundament and quite obviously based on centralized propaganda. (Of course, some were also on the wrong side of history, knowingly playing along, or just too cowardly to speak up.) So yes, that piece gained a whole new meaning in our times, and I do hope that leaders will not repeat the same behavior we have seen in most of them from 2020 to date. We need more COURAGE in leaders, that's for sure. But also a higher awareness of responsibility for being informed.