What is good leadership?
I’ve been thinking about examples in my past: what leadership looked like and what leadership made me feel.
Good leaders
- use language and behaviors that make individuals feel chosen, capable, heard, and necessary
- are engaged, insatiably curious across the boundaries of their work, and are IN the fight
- communicate expectations clearly, and provide clear role definitions (where appropriate)
- promote ownership by assigning work that matters, that encourages growth and allows individuals to think critically and add value
- provide, through action and language, perspective on what matters most—perspective that we are more than the work that we do
- they know the heart and feelings associated with the central opportunity/problem/task people are working on
- leaders ask questions, not because they need the answer, but to encourage critical thinking and contribution, even when it requires immense patience: “how do you think that went?” “how else could we have done that?” “how would you have done that?” “what are you curious about?” “how did people respond?” “what went well?” “what did you notice about…?” “what are you struggling with?” “is there something you’re interested in that you want to spend time working on?”
- they empower, which creates space for ownership, contribution, leadership, and growth (even, and especially, when it encourages a person to grow so much they outgrow the space they are in)
- they provide intentional space for disagreement and differences in opinion
I think part of the art of leadership is to build more leaders, and this kind of leader is innately an excellent follower. When it’s authentic, it’s magic. If I feel heard, understood and that my contribution matters I will give tirelessly. I assume this is true for others.
What has good leadership looked like for you?
//GLK
