What people look for in great leaders

Photo: Hung Nguyen

- Stability

To ensure stability, it’s important that leaders look beyond today and consider what’s over the horizon.This means taking action early to shape the organisation and equip it to respond and succeed in a new environment. These actions sometimes involve making very tough decisions that impact employees and their families. When these decisions are necessary, keeping employees informed is critical to stability. Information is empowering. When employees can anticipate change and plan accordingly, they are less worried, less distracted, and more engaged in creating a positive future.

- Trust

Trust is the basis of all positive relationships. The foundation for trust has to be earned every day by the high standards you set, the energy and enthusiasm you show, the steps you take to develop your people, and the sincerity you demonstrate through words and actions.

Again, communication is crucial. It’s important to communicate transparently, honestly and in a timely manner. In particular, it is great to have person-to-person communication. It enables employees to look you in the eyes, ask questions, and walk away with trust in your leadership and an understanding of your priorities and vision for the future.

- Compassion

Compassion is more than just treating people as you like to be treated. It’s about treating people as they like to be treated. To do that, you need to genuinely know your employees. You need to understand who they are and what matters in their lives. You need to actively listen when they share their concerns and respond with empathy.

Compassion isn’t just for tough times. It’s for all times.

When you build a culture of compassion, it flows in all directions. It reinforces the importance of confronting tough issues rather than shying away or insulating yourself. Leaders are always thinking about the well-being of those they lead, not themselves.

- Hope

In times of great change, leaders inspire hope. As a leader, you must help people see where change is heading, the ideal future state when change is successful, and the roles people will play going forward. The result will be a fully engaged, committed, and hopeful workforce – and a stronger company – for having weathered the storm.

Source: navigossearch.com ; Inc.com ; Linkedin.com ; forbes.com; Tlnt.com