Be Challenged & Lead On with Anupama (Part 3): Communicate with Conviction!

"Leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand." states the Law Of Communication This was news to me since I have seen those in leadership positions asking for a hand first before they would touch your heart. How do you shift from being a leader who bypassed the heart and went straight for the hand to becoming a leader who set things right.

John C. Maxwell says that "Before we attempt to set things right as leaders, we need to see things right." The key to making this shift is to begin asking more questions and start giving less direction. Focus on others and get to know individuals on your team.

Questions will allow you to find the right people. There was a time when people were assigned to my team and I had no say in that matter.

Today I am able to make that choice and pick team members for my team. I love working with a team of individuals who are different than me and gives me a different perspective. I am always wondering what questions to ask so that I can get to know them and connect with them on common ground.

This is still a work in progress for me, I have not yet mastered this technique but I wanted to share with you what I am learning.

In the book "No Limits", it says that

1. If questions unlock the door, listening keeps the door open.
2. Questions start the conversation, but listening encourages it to continue.
3. Listening shows that I want to understand someone before I try to be understood by them.

To find and understand people, we need to ask questions and then listen! Only then can we lead effectively!

Stephen R. Covey says in The Speed Of Trust,

• It is important to focus on a shared vision of success up front. This is a preventive measure.
• When expectations are not clearly defined up front, trust and speed both go down.
• A lot of time is wasted due to leaders not clearly defining expectations.
• Failure to clarify expectations leaves people guessing.
• When results are delivered they fall short and are not valued.

Here are the 3 steps I am following that is working for me:

1. Let them know You Value Them - I clearly communicate how much I value them as individuals, not just as players on the team. If I as a leader don't value them, I will try to manipulate them for my advantage instead of investing in them for their advantage.
2. Identify the Value They Place on Themselves - The value that people on my team places on themselves determines the level of commitment to themselves and others. I try to put wins under their belt and speak words of affirmation.
3. Make the Connection A Constant - I try to stay connected with my team members reminding them to keep moving forward even when mistakes are made. When I stay connected as a leader, I hold them accountable and offer encouragement.

Let me conclude with sharing how blessed I am to be working as a volunteer for different organizations with a team of servant leaders. It gives me the opportunity to apply leadership lessons I am learning each day from books and from life lessons taught by experienced leaders I surround myself with.

Next time I will share how Responsibility Creates The Foundation of Your Success and Earns You Respect and Authority!

As you ponder over what I have shared in this article, here are a few questions you can start with to increase your Leadership Capacity.

#1. How good are you with connecting with people and challenging them? Are you better at one than the other? How can you improve the one you don't do that well?

#2. Are you connecting with people before you ask them to change? Have you set the right expectations up front?

My leadership capacity has increased over the past few years - what do I mean by that. My ability to Lift and Lead Others has definitely expanded and my Influence capacity is extending beyond boundaries. Thanx to Sheeba Hasnain and her team, I will be a Co-Author for the very first time and I will be sharing my story with a global audience with the help of SENTIENTE . Enjoy the short video introduction to get to know me and what my mission is!