JANUARY 17, 2023

Challenges And Changes Of Leading With Humanity

Let’s be honest. Not everyone is a fit for your company’s culture.

When I coach leaders about leading with humanity, we often have to engage in a process to “unlearn.”

When you’re working to break through limiting beliefs, you will face some hard work.

Working to change negative thought patterns? You’ll meet opposition.

Trying to unlearn bad habits that no longer serve you? Prepare for challenges.

I tell my clients upfront that changing their old habits and evolving into someone who leads with humanity is going to be hard work…but it’s going to be worth it.

The Challenges

If you’ve been in a leadership role for some time, you may sense the paradigm shift in the workplace.

It used to be that leaders were required to put feelings aside, focus on facts and stick to the mission. We came to believe that being a strong leader meant being an emotionless leader who had all the answers.

Today’s employees expect their executives to lead with humanity.

Making this shift requires that you dig deep and be willing to be vulnerable — and that can be a challenge for a lot of people. Vulnerability can feel like exposure. Not everyone is comfortable with admitting they don’t have all the answers. It can be scary.

Many leaders still believe that caring too much can make you seem weak. There are still old-school beliefs that leading with humanity doesn’t drive results, but instead makes people fragile or even creates excuses.

If that’s your thought process I want to challenge you. Is your leadership style really driving results, or is it driving people to get results? Said in business terms: how is your employee retention rate trending?

The Outcome

Leading with humanity requires the heart of a servant. Servant leadership recognizes their role as a privilege rather than a status.

If you disagree, let me give you some tough love. Get over yourself and your title. Leadership is an honor. As leaders, we have the opportunity to inspire and motivate people to be their best selves and do their best work.

That should be our focus because authentic people give a better return on investment.

  1. A team that trusts you makes the right choices more often
  2. A team that believes you have their best interest at heart responds accordingly
  3. An open line of communication with your employees ensures you won’t be the last to know
  4. When the foundation of your workplace culture is a deep sense of belonging, you will see loyalty and productivity far beyond anything you’ve experienced with a carrot and stick.

Are you ready to make an impact as a leader?

OAIB is here to support you through the challenges and changes of leading with humanity. Reach out to us to see how we can work together.