Actively Using Leadership Best Practices

Last week, I posted an article about best practices and challenged leaders to consider if they were using all the best practices available to them in their organization.

Today, I challenge you to think about leadership best practices, itself. Focus on those best practices that make you, particularly, a better leader. Consider your character, behavior, and actions.

Last night, I had a debate with my 17-year-old nephew. The subject of the debate is unimportant. While driving home after the debate, however, I reflected on my actions and feelings:

• Was I respectful of his perspective?
• Did I listen to his sentences, all the way to each period, without interrupting?
• Did I consider that, perhaps, I was wrong in my stance?
• Do I feel as though he listened to my viewpoint?
• Were we both too impassioned?
• Was it okay for us to disagree?

In other words, I was trying to practice an aspect of emotional intelligence by processing the discussion. Being alone gave me the time to be retrospective and introspective. I used the time to think.

It was absolutely amazing to see him so passionate about his viewpoint. In countering his opinion, I also did not want to offend him. Admittedly, we were on the same side, with the difference being minute.

Afterward, I asked his opinion on how he felt. Did he feel it was okay for me to disagree with him? Did he have fun? Would he like to debate again? It was, he did, and perhaps.

He is very, very intelligent, has the courage of his convictions, and is mature enough to be polite. He will only get more intelligent, skilled, innovative, and creative.

He is already a great leader.

Note some leadership best practices used here:

• Being able to engage in dialogue.
• Challenging others to think critically.
• Being aware of one’s actions and behaviors.
• Considering the positive attributes of one’s colleagues.
• Encouraging and supporting another’s leadership growth.

?Note that these leadership best practices were not used in an organizational setting! Practice them in your home and your relationships. Note how they contribute to a healthy environment.

Leaders: Do you practice the leadership best practices of being retrospective and introspective? ?

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Dr. David Langemo

[email protected]

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