Leadership shows up in ordinary moments. The meeting where you say the thing nobody is saying. The conversation you have been putting off. The choice to step in when it would be easier to wait for someone else to.
These articles are about those moments: what they look like, what gets in the way, and what to do differently the next time one shows up.
Curious about how you lead already? Take the leadership style quiz and find out where your strengths are.
We have a sense about recognizing leadership when we see it. Think of someone whose leadership stands out for you. Consider those around you right now. Is there someone you can identify whose leadership is noteworthy? With a specific person in mind, ask yourself: what is it that they have done or provided that has you name them as a leader?
We talk a lot about the theory of leadership, but what about leadership in action? How do we put the theory into practice? We watch people; we make assessments about whether we think someone is a leader, or try to assess their style of leadership. Yet we won’t really know what it is until we see it in action.
Seeking the best definition of leadership is a bit like trying to find the best definition of beauty: it has many interpretations, although we know it when we see it. It is also said that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. In fact, beauty does not look the same in all cultures and perhaps neither does leadership. This points to the power of context in shaping our interpretations of “truth” about anything, including leadership.
Have you taken the time to get clear for yourself why you want to be a leader? Or, are you waiting to get to a particular level or actually have people reporting to you before that question seems relevant? Consider that: “Why do you want to lead?” is a question you should be asking yourself early and often in your career.
To lovingly tend the garden of your mind every day, sift your thoughts for gold, choose your words wisely, and engage in conversations that matters. You will sow the seeds of an abundant harvest and keep the weeds at bay.
It goes without saying that we live at a time, in the knowledge age, that external distractions are compounding. Everything keeps moving faster and faster. We are all so busy: there are so many things we need to do, and many more things going on around us all at once. It can be quite hard to create the mental and physical space necessary to really listen to another human being.
How to Listen in an Age of External Distractions Read More »
To create mental space to listen well to another human being is not easy. This time in history has been referred to as the attention deficit age. And it is no wonder. Everything moves fast and seems to keep moving faster. There are often so many things we need to do and so many more activities going on at once around us. The mechanics of hearing sound may be simple, but keeping the concentration necessary to process meaning from words and sentences is not.
Creating Mental Space to Listen in an Age of Attention Deficit Read More »
The power of silence is evident when you isten generously in a way that has someone experience being fully heard and supported. They walk away believing in themselves and their ability to make a bigger difference than they ever imagined.
The Power of Silence as a Strategy for Leadership Read More »
Speak less so you listen more. When you feel the tension in a conversation, you might be surprised at how this one simple strategy can quickly turn a conversation about what’s wrong into a conversation about what we can do to make things better.
Listening better is the most recommended solution when people meet head-on, especially if they have very different views about how to satisfy important principles they actually share and they want to achieve shared goals.
How Listening Better Works With These 3 Important Principles Read More »
To learn how good a listener you are, design some questions about listening you want to reflect on; and try asking the people you are communicating with on a regular basis for feedback. Let people know you want to get better at listening.
When it comes to teaching people to communicate we have historically focused a lot more on effective speaking, writing and presenting than on effective listening. Yet what has you trust someone more: the ability to speak eloquently or the ability to listen better so that people actually feel heard?
3 Simple Steps to Listen Better so You Hear More Read More »
![Why The Best Leaders Make Love a Top Priority with Matt Tenney [Guest Post]](https://randomactsofleadership.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/97492686_l-1024x683_132866ec5b1fd1ec6aaf716766fe1088_2000.jpg)
Love in business is a concept as new as it is old. Matt Tenney recently covered this topic in a TEDx Talk entitled, “Why the Best Leaders Make Love a Top Priority.” Read the interview here.
Why The Best Leaders Make Love a Top Priority with Matt Tenney [Guest Post] Read More »
Does success mean checking things off of your “to do” list or project plan, or does success mean achieving an outcome or result that is strategic and matters to you or others?
Perhaps the simplest way to know you are leading effectively is that you and your team are producing the results you promise to your organization. However, being an effective leader is about more than just producing results with and through others. After all, you can produce results when people work long grueling hours that over time leave them feeling exhausted
