Leadership is about empathy. It is about having the ability to relate and to connect with people for the purpose of inspiring and empowering their lives.
-Oprah Winfrey
If we’ve worked together, you know I have some pretty strong feelings about what makes for a good leader. When you’re at the top of the food chain, the weight can feel unbearable. Your job is to keep the train on the tracks, and everywhere you look, you see men in black hats with stacks of dynamite.
… but hey, that’s the job. It’s why you make the big bucks.
Conversely, I’ve seen firsthand how bad leaders react. Leadership positions require a hard reset from your past employment experience, and it’s not for everyone.
There’s no more time for fear when issues rise to the surface—and there will always be issues. There’s no more need for CYA (cover your ass) emails; it’s your job to inspire work to happen. Motivating your team is your responsibility. Finger-pointing, accusations, and temper tantrums have no place, as they only breed discontent among those you need most.
When things go wrong—and they will go wrong—you rally the troops. You look for solutions and then celebrate the wins.
Now, get out there, inspire others to be the best they can be, and have a great rest of your week!
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