I recently used the straightforward yet insightful icebreaker question, “Share one thing that you like or respect about your manager,” at a leadership session. What emerged was a profound understanding of the dynamics of effective leadership.
Ninety percent of the participants in the “creeping circle” exercise enthusiastically acknowledged qualities in their supervisors that they found motivating, empathetic, playful, attentive, and energetic. Still, one person’s silence said volumes. This lone voice revealed a severe leadership gap, as they were unable to describe a single favorable element about their manager.
The following day, I used Google to see if this was a typical response. I just typed in the terms “my manager” to see what results would appear. Without pressing enter, a traditional boss vs. employee list appeared right away. “My boss is a poison.” I am being micromanaged by my management. My boss despises me.
What connection does this make to leadership? Many thanks! Now let us discuss numbers.
A research by Joseph Folkman and Jack Zenger found that there is only a 1 in 2,000 probability that a manager who is highly despised will be regarded as a successful leader. Making difficult choices and formulating plans is only one aspect of leadership. It is all about how you affect people’s emotions. Nobody wants to put in more effort on behalf of a supervisor they do not respect or like. When members of the team find it difficult to find positive qualities in their leaders, there is a breakdown in trust, efficacy, and communication.
The lack of respect for a boss highlights the necessity for self-reflection and enhancing leadership techniques. Think for a moment about the way you lead and how your actions affect their experience.
Where do you think you would rank on a likeability scale, if your team had to rate you? Are you cultivating growth, establishing trust, and creating a positive work environment? Do you take genuine, empathetic, and intentional leadership?
Imagine your team members’ faces lighting up when you enter into a room. They have faith in you. They are respectful of you. They abide by your word. This is what effective leadership looks like; it is not a dream. A successful team atmosphere is not the result of happenstance. It is the outcome of a leader who creates a strong foundation of trust, inspires awe, and cultivates connections.
“Treat people well enough so they do not want to go, and train them well enough so they can,” is a quote attributed to Richard Branson. It is your responsibility as a leader to inspire your group and win their respect. How are you making sure that your team likes and respects you as a leader? This week, choose a goal for yourself to increase your likeability. It could hold the secret to releasing your full leadership potential.
