“Control is a mirage. The most effective leaders right now – men and women – are those who embrace traits once considered feminine: Empathy. Vulnerability. Humility. Inclusiveness. Generosity. Balance. Patience.”
This is how this month’s Inc. magazine cover story started; it got my attention. It made me think about some of my prior bosses. Sure enough, the best ones did embrace these traits. As the author mentions in the article, I would have followed them into a burning building. Who doesn’t want that level of an engaged workforce? Unfortunately, many organizations are still stuck back in the days of command and control that does not inspire a thriving workplace. In the article, Leigh Buchanan explains, “We have progressed from command-and-control (roughly through the 80’s) to empower-and-track (1990’s to 2000’s) to connect-and-nurture (today).”
One of the most powerful ways that I have experienced making this cultural shift is through the Team Advantage process. In the organizations I’ve had the pleasure to coach in, the top executive drove for the shift and it was executed by a group of Change Agents and teams through out the organization. It empowered the teams and gave the team leaders a “coach approach” framework that embraced all of these connecting and nurturing traits. And of course, there was accountability as part of the process. It is still crucial to be tough on performance but the approach is completely different from the old command-control process. Rather than instilling fear that appears like control but falls apart when things get rough, instead a higher level of commitment and working together to make a difference are instilled so that when things do get tough the team creatively solves the problem (or runs into the burning building after the leader to help save him or her). The strongest team leaders embraced these traits; although several found them difficult at first.
Here is the on-line article; I found it well worth my time: “Between Venus and Mars: 7 Traits of True Leaders.” Think about your best bosses or leaders you respect; do they share these traits? Do you? I learned some of them a bit late in my formal leadership role and I would have saved a lot of pain, and thrived more, if I’d been able to incorporate them sooner.