Relationship-Leadership

Hello All,

I hope this finds you doing well! And staying cool! That may have been quite a challenge this week – it has been hotter than the blazes of Hades! I am definitely a Spring and Autumn girl, so woohoo – this week has been quite a ride! I know all of my summer loving friends have been just fine!

I was talking to some friends this week, and, as usual, one of the topics was leadership. All of us are or have been leaders, so we are always debating what makes great leaders (in and out of healthcare, which we all happen to love!). And with all of the crazy things going on in the whole world, it is easy to talk about leadership – the good, the bad and the ugly! So when I was asked what the cornerstone of leadership is, I said leadership is all about relationships.

So what attributes do you think make a great relationship, personal and/or professional? I would hazard a guess that some of the following are included in your answer – self-awareness, trust, honesty, open communication (which includes active listening), respect, caring, shared vision and visibility. Now think about the best leaders that you have ever worked for – what attributes do you think about? The same, right?

You notice I didn’t say power, solid decision making, hierarchy. The truth is none of that matters if there is no trust, no respect, no or limited honesty, or if one feels uncomfortable providing feedback (psychological insecurity). The feeling of being cared about cannot be shortchanged. Without all of these, it is difficult to build or maintain shared vision. The leader cannot be what one of my friends calls an “office walker” – the staff and the customers must see the commitment – and see whether the “talk” and the “walk” match. Self awareness is critical, because we all have blind spots, buttons that can be pushed. We have to recognize these or acknowledge them when they are pointed out, so we can self correct or apologize! And it is not about “I’ll scratch your back, if you’ll scratch mine!” It is about shared vision and commitment to doing the right thing for all.

Almost every leadership model/theory includes these some or all of these attributes/behaviors. Servant Leadership’s core is to serve, to share power, and to foster a commitment to put the needs of the employees first, helping them to develop and perform highly. In addition to the previous attributes, there is empathy, stewardship, and building community. The newest leadership model Human-Centered Leadership (HCL) focuses on “the fulfillment of the leader who simultaneously focuses on others”. It is about creating a culture of “excellence, trust and caring”. HCL’s core behaviors include self-awareness, deep listening, curiosity, decisiveness and empathy. There is a focus on doing what is right before results (noting that if one does what is right, positive results will follow), and focusing on creating an environment where people can grow, develop and excel.

Leadership is not easy. There are days when it makes you feel like your hair caught on fire. It is fulfilling, It can be joyful. For me, it was the greatest honor.

Lead on!

Phyl