Calling All Leaders: The Importance of Being Human

WE HAVE all heard the expression: ‘You’re only human.’

However, being a truly human leader is more than just being human. Of course, you still need to lead with humanity and make prudent decisions.

But it also pays to keep in mind that the higher up the leadership ladder you go, the more impact your decision-making has.

In some cases, literally: ‘the buck stops with you’.

When this happens, it is worth considering your own values - and the values of your stakeholders - when making decisions.

In a nutshell, you need to consider what values are most important to you when leading others, and how you can best implement them.

Qualities such as kindness and human dignity spring to mind - as do patience, tolerance and empathy.

Whatever human values you hold dear, it is important as a leader to bring them to the fore in whatever you are doing.

You may have a staff member who is going through difficult times at home – problems that are impacting on his or her work.

When this happens, try to treat them not just as a worker or employee, but as a human being.

By communicating with your staff openly, honestly and empathetically you will be able to deal with issues much more effectively.

If you want to be a truly leader - tolerance and understanding is vital - as is kindness, empathy and human dignity.

Sometimes called Emotional Intelligence (or EI), these qualities are what make a leader not just good, but great.

In a recent Management Issues article, leadership expert Duane Dike explains how being a true and human leader is more than just acting ‘leader-like’.

Truly human leadership revolves around relationships.

By focusing on the human aspect of their team, a true leader can help employees change the way they see the organisation for the better.

The benefits of such good relationships include:

·     Psychological freedom

·     A greater tendency to think about the work, and

·     More ethical behaviour.

In other words, it is authentic or genuine leadership: leadership where leaders don't pretend to be anyone other than who they are, without fakery.

The other thing about truly human leadership is it enables employees to feel a sense of confidence, hope, and optimism that actually translates into happiness.

And happy employees are productive and safe employees.

Truly human leaders don’t need to be showy, extrovert or loud.

Indeed, introverted leaders with all of the necessary human qualities are just as capable of achieving the same or better results: although many prefer to work with smaller teams.

Of course, it is a proven fact that as such leaders become more in-tune with their true selves, they also become kinder and more considerate of employee needs.

True and authentic, human leaders have a particular humility about them: one where they can both admit mistakes, and congratulate achievement.

They are also more tolerant, considerate, and motivational.

As the philosopher and psychologist William James once said:

"Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude."

This is never truer than with bad leaders, who rather than adopting a positive and inspirational attitude, are much more likely to be confrontational and argumentative in the face of conflict.

By contrast, a truly human leader can defuse such difficult situations with ease - using calm, honest and empathetic behaviour to create a relaxed, positive and constructive outcome.