Are you a human leader?

525 words, 4 min reading time

Great leaders are human first. What makes someone a human leader?

Authenticity + Empathy + Adaptivity = Human leadership

Why does being a human leader matter?

Our world changed almost 3 years ago when our home & work life collided. Leading a hybrid workforce requires a dramatically different approach. We can no longer prioritize efficiency over flexibility OR workplace boundaries over self-expression OR work needs over life needs.

"Gartner’s research found a 37-percentage point increase in the number of employees reporting high engagement who report to a human leader versus employees who do not consider their leader to be a human leader. This increase is significant – highly engaged employees improve their team’s performance by up to 27%."

Go Deeper: How to become a human leader:

1. Display authenticity: Authenticity is defined as being true to yourself, being sincere and being true to your values. Authentic leaders are vulnerable, open and transparent. They also genuinely care about the well-being of the people on their team. Authentic leaders model the way with their self-expression at work. For e.g.: Indra Nooyi didn't shy away from wearing a saree- an Indian traditional garment, in her early days in the U.S. However, Authenticity is nuanced and complicated. Watch this Ted talk by Dr. Herminia Ibarra to learn more.
2. Be empathetic: Brene Brown talks about empathy as the ability to effortlessly tap into the perspective of others by connecting with a similar emotion within themselves. Watch this video here for a funny yet on point explanation of empathy. Additionally, the research of Theresa Wiseman demystifies empathy as having the below 4 attributes.

To be able to see the world as others see it.

To be non-judgmental.

To understand another’s person’s feelings.

To communicate the understanding of that person’s feelings.

3. Exemplify adaptivity: When I think about adaptivity, I imagine a rubberband that can accommodate different objects. A rubber band is flexible and can be loose, hold things together or stretch. Adaptive leadership is about being flexible in the moment, and yet keeping an eye on the future strategy and goals. As a human leader, adaptivity shows up when we keep in mind individualized needs of our teams, and yet keep working towards a common goal.

Go even deeper:?

Pick one action to focus on your human leadership journey.

• Authenticity: Share an aspect of your identity that you haven't shared with your team for e.g.- a personal story, a story about your heritage, or your values.
• ?Empathy: In your next conversation with your team, practice empathic listening by immersing yourself in their story.
• Adaptivity: Schedule 1:1s with each member of your team and ask them any of the below 1) What do you value most about working here? 2) How do you like to be appreciated? 3) How can I support you to achieve your goals?

#Everdayleadership?is about taking action to be a great leader every day! Try one of the actions to be a #humanleader and let me know how it went.

References: Gartner research: In a Hybrid World, Leaders Need Help Being Human

Published?4 August 2022?- ID G0077184