What does Leadership mean to you?

Our world has changed. Thirty years ago, companies were hiring managers and they were hiring leaders, but they were not necessarily the same people. Today, every manager is expected not only to be an effective leader but also a coach and mentor. Most of us are more comfortable on one side or the other in the leadership/management balance. Balancing the skills between leadership and management is the focus for all managers and leaders today.

Leadership Styles & Tendencies

When we interact with someone whose leadership style is similar to our own, communication is relatively easy. However, when we work with people whose leadership style is different from our own, communication and cooperation can be challenging. Dale Carnegie said the most important element of working with different leadership styles is flexibility -- our willingness and ability to see things from another person's point of view. So how do we determine our own leadership style, and more important, how do we work effectively with others who have a different style?

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Give honest, sincere appreciation.

I must apologize ahead of time for this blog as I need to vent.  I recently watched an episode of Undercover boss in which the CEO of Chiquita went undercover in different areas of their business.  It was comical as he couldn’t do anything with any speed or accuracy and not one of the people he worked with said they would hire him.  He said that he thought that the key to their business was efficiency and the speed to which they got their produce to market.  He explained that after spending the time in the different areas of their business that he realized that their key to success was their people.

You’re kidding me right??  Where the heck does everything come from??  Your people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If business leaders don’t see this, how can their people be engaged?  How can they be proud of what they do and make a difference in their jobs?  Where do ideas to improve come from?  Where does that extra effort to solve a customer issue come from? 

I couldn’t believe that a CEO of any company would say that.  Sorry it just blows me away.   

In the show I watched grown men cry as they were given sincere appreciation for what they do every day for the company.  It was great to see people working hard doing the right things and getting rewarded for it.  Too bad it took some dumb TV show for this guy to figure it out.

Showing our people sincere appreciation doesn’t cost us a thing, yet it still seems this is what individuals respond to the best and want more of.  Here is my challenge to you over the next couple of week.  Think of a handful of people that you work with, think of some things that they do well and give them some sincere appreciation for what they do well.  See how they react.  I’m sure it will be a very positive 2 weeks for you!!!!

Dale Carnegie Human Relations Principle #2 Give honest, sincere appreciation.