The Art of Leading with both Heart and Head
Elif Acar-Chiasson, P.E.
Executive Coach for AEC Leaders I Engineering-to-Executive Transition Coach I Emotional Intelligence+Technical Excellence I High-Value Team Builder
Take a moment to consider the leaders you have looked up to. What qualities did they share? Perhaps 'intelligence', 'ambition', and 'determination' spring to mind. But have you pondered 'empathy', 'compassion', or 'humaneness'? My professional trajectory has demonstrated that the leaders who truly make a difference are those who skillfully balance all these traits.
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Walking Through the Corporate Jungle: A Personal Tale
Navigating the AEC industry, my experiences largely mirrored the broader corporate ecosystem – an environment often influenced by 'masculine' leadership traits. Strategy, toughness, and cold logic reigned supreme, often overshadowing sentiment and tolerance. Yet, a chance meeting with my executive coach threw my perspective into a new light. His words echoed in my mind, "Lead with your heart as much as your head." This advice, while initially perplexing, sparked a powerful transformation.
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Today, in 2023, I find myself reflecting on this journey and appreciating how my leadership perspective has significantly evolved. The leaders who leave a mark, I've come to realize, are the ones who transcend traditional dichotomies and navigate the nuances between intellectual and emotional leadership.
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Learning to Don the Empathy Cape: A Story from the Trenches
Let me illustrate this shift with a splash of humor. Picture a young engineer at the start of their career, a toolbox full of analytical tools, and a shiny new hard hat. That was me. A complex operational challenge had me wrangling with probability theory, schematics, and spreadsheets, much like an excited kid with a jigsaw puzzle on a rainy day. Our success was a testament to the power of intellectual leadership. But as engineers know, not everything can be calculated and graphed. The day came when a team member was grappling with personal issues. There were no blueprints or equations to guide me here, no manual entitled 'How to Support a Team Member 101.' My 'heart' had to jump into the driver's seat, navigating uncharted territory to ensure they felt supported and valued. Through this experience, I realized that being a leader sometimes meant hanging up the hard hat and, instead, donning the empathy cape.
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Adaptive Leadership: The Ultimate Power Move
I have come to value the skill of switching between the qualities of the 'head' and the 'heart,' depending on the situation. It's not just about striking a balance but mastering the art of integration – a style I've come to know as 'adaptive leadership'. And, it is in this style that I've found a key to enhancing team performance and overall job satisfaction.
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Adding another layer of complexity and richness to this discussion is the critical importance of diversity in leadership. Organizations and teams that embrace diversity, not only in gender but also in background, tend to foster better leaders who successfully blend the head and heart. This synergy brings a fresh perspective, innovative solutions, and a deeper understanding of multifaceted challenges – the result is higher team morale, improved performance, and ultimately, a more successful organization.
I challenge you to reflect on your leadership style. Are you favoring your 'head' over your 'heart', or vice versa? Recognizing this is the first step towards embracing adaptive leadership.
Next, try to identify situations where you could bring more of your 'heart' or 'head' into play. Perhaps a team conflict could benefit from a more empathetic approach, or a strategic project could use more analytical input.
Remember, no scenario is ever purely black and white. Be open to adjusting your leadership style according to the situation at hand. Watch how this approach not only enhances your problem-solving capabilities, but also strengthens your bond with your teams and within your organizations.
Increasing our understanding of this 'head and heart' approach to leadership, Brené Brown's book, "Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts," explores this very dynamic. Brown suggests that leading with courage and vulnerability is the key to building strong, meaningful connections in the workplace. She challenges traditional notions of leadership and encourages leaders to embrace their emotional sides. It's a recommended read for anyone aiming to deepen their grasp of adaptive leadership, fostering a corporate culture where empathy and understanding stand shoulder to shoulder with strategy and drive.
Leave a comment or simply like this post. Join the conversation. Share your experiences and let's grow together in this journey of adaptive leadership. The new wave of leadership is here, are you ready to be a part of it?