A Leader
David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer

One of my favorite parts of my job is conducting 360-degree assessments. The information I get about a leader is priceless, and while there is always something each leader needs to work on, the positives I hear are so inspirational. This morning, I heard this comment: “I want to thank her because she helped me find meaning and purpose in my life.” This person’s leader gets leadership.

Napoleon said, “Leaders are dealers in hope,” and he was correct, but they can (and should) be so much more than dealers in hope; they should also be facilitators of opportunity and catalysts for growth. The best leaders also help their people find purpose and meaning in their lives. Let’s look at what it takes to get to this leadership level.

• • Selfless Servant Leadership – It’s not about you. Too many bosses think it’s all about their position or title and what the employee can do for them or the company. When the focus is on the team members and what they need to succeed at work and in life, productivity and innovation soar. The team members are far more engaged and don’t want to disappoint the leader.
  • Hopes, Dreams, and Beliefs – I am returning to an old topic with this one. The leader needs to know each team member’s hopes, dreams, and beliefs. This information is critical to establishing a connection. So many people think they are communicating, but the message gets lost in all the noise of life. Connecting with our team members takes us to a level where serotonin and oxytocin get released in our brains. These brain chemicals are critical to forming long-lasting loyal relationships where people open up and deliver amazing results.
  • Prioritize Growth – You cannot give what you do not have. Are you learning something new each day? If you aren’t, what will you have to offer your team? When you are growing, learning, and sharing, your team continues to look to you for guidance. When the rate of change outside of you is greater than the growth within you, you will soon become obsolete.

So, how about you? Do you want to be a leader?