Your leadership style: Caesar or Jesus?
I just returned from 2 weeks of family vacation in Italy.
For the first time since the advent of mobile phones, I made the conscious decision to unplug 100%. No Internet, no cell phone, no television, no newspapers, and no business periodicals. I took 3 books: two off-beat Italian books, and one I love called “Right Here, Right Now”.
I went with absolutely no personal agenda. I was totally unattached to the outcome of any activity or timeline. My only personal agenda was to practice being 100% present every moment of the time, to pay attention and learn everything I could.
The results :
- A sense of calm and acceptance. Forgiveness of myself, others, and a sense of gratitude. Even in the midst of lost passports, a 105 degree heat wave, family diasagreements, and typical things that go “wrong”.
- Laser-focused observation of not only my surroundings, but of others’ emotions and actions; almost a supernatural ability to see the “under-layer” of others’ behaviors and an understanding of what emotions were dictating behaviors.
- Flexibility to be there for others and the freedom and time to be able to help them get a need met that was either being ignored or had an unknown solution. The time and openness to be able to listen and contribute to the “good of the order”.
- Absolute clarity between personal “wants” and “needs”. I found myself wanting nothing, and needing very little.
- I experienced the best vacation I have ever had.
- WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR LEADERS AND OUR BUSINESSES?
- Getting our own agenda out of the way will allow us to be better leaders: less imposing, more empowering, lending a hand when it is needed, but not micro-managing what doesn’t need to be worried about. Being a better listener and hearing what’s really underneath the words being said. Listening for what people need, and distinguishing between wants and needs for them and for ourselves.
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The history of the once-great fallen Roman Empire is still very fresh in my mind after this trip. We must ask ourselves: Has our company and our leadership style become like ancient Rome? Because the result is already written in the pages of history. Personal agendas, jockeying for power and control, greed, and the pursuit of hedonism has already proven to bring the walls tumbling down.
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Of all people, we leaders must get out from under our agendas for long enough to evaluate our purpose, and how it affects the larger scheme of things. My idea for today is to go grab one person on the front line and build a relationship with them. Find out what they really need, and start figuring out how to help them meet that need.
An ancient Buddhist saying comes to mind. Make it your agenda for today:
- Show up.
- Pay attention.
- Tell the truth.
- Don’t be attached to the outcome.
Tags: Best Practices, CEO coach, CEO tips, Emotional Intelligence, EQ Coach, Executive Coach, executive coaching, Executive Performance Coach, Leadership, Self Management, Senior Leadership
