Communicating how you will lead
"Great leaders communicate and great communicators lead." Simon Sinek
Changing environments and the demands of the organization and the mission cause us to adapt our leadership approaches as we influence and inspire organizations and individuals. I had to adjust my narrative and be more present during periods or seasons when organizational morale and confidence was low. My people needed different individual leadership approaches to be at their best. I was forced to adapt my leadership and I needed to communicate that to my people.
At my core I'm a patient and non-dominant leader. I'm also very extroverted and a non-conformist. These are my strengths or my 'fortes' shown in the graph above. My graph or my leadership and communication shift based on the environment. For instance I may need to be more impatient or more dominant to lead appropriately. I may need to separate myself from the social settings of my extroversion to think and reflect. I owe my people transparency and vulnerability when this is happening. Here is an example.
"Team, as you know we are headed into our busiest time of the year. While you know me as a patient and extroverted person, I'll have to adapt and be a bit more demanding and impatient. I will also need some time alone to think and reflect. All of this is to lead you better and to accomplish our mission. Rest assured, I won't become a Jekyll and Hyde. I owe you clear communication if my patience is dropping or if I need to carve out some alone time to examine our tasks deeper. I'll be meeting with each of you to discuss how you are adapting and how I can help you be at your best. This is always a challenging time of year but my confidence in each of you is high and I know we will get through it together."
Communicate your leadership. Ensure your people know your fortes. Tell your people how you are adapting and why. Contact me if you want clarity on who you are, how you are adapting and how you are perceived by others. I administer the Forté Institute’s® Communication Intelligence Lifetime Survey and Assessment. In only 8 minutes it will profoundly impact your leadership as it has mine. Let's chat!
Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell