ABC’s for Leaders – “A”
Today’s words for leaders begin with “A.”
A’s from Facebook contributors:
- Appreciation
- Ally
- Accessible
- Affirmation
- Accountable
- Available
- Adroit
- Adaptive
- Authenticity
- Audacious
- Aspire
- Alacrity (I had to look that one up. It means: cheerful readiness. Good word.)
See the entire list of A’s for leaders on Facebook. My addition to the “A” list is …
Attunement:
Leadership isn’t pressuring people to tune into you. Successful leaders tune into others. Daniel Pink calls attunement, “Perspective-taking.” (To Sell is Human)
Perspective-taking lowers barriers, connects, and enhances influence.
Those forced to defend their perspective
can’t afford to take yours.
Influence begins by taking another’s perspective.
How to Attune:
The research of Galinsky, Magee, and Gruenfeld suggest the more power you have the less likely you are to take another’s perspective.
Those in charge are out of touch
because they are in charge.
Stop assuming you have power. Status blocks perspective taking. Power wrongly thinks, “Why should I take their perspective when I’m the boss?”
The trouble with powerful leaders is they don’t take perspectives, they give them.
Powerful leaders don’t rely on power.
- Stop using power and position as a crutch.
- Choose lower seats. In meetings sit in the middle of the table, not the head.
- Remove physical barriers. Don’t stay behind your desk when talking.
- Avoid references to position.
- Take a servants attitude. Work to be helpful.
- Talk less. People with power talk too much.
- Monitor the emotions of others and adapt. Go slower with fearful people, for example.
“Attunement is the ability to bring ones actions and outlook into harmony with other people and with the context you’re in.” Daniel Pink
How can leaders attune?
What’s your favorite “A” for leaders?
Tomorrow’s post: ABC’s for Leaders – “B.” Add your leadership B’s on Facebook.
Have you read Seth Godin’s ABC book? V is for Vulnerable? It’s cute. I like your angle.
I haven’t read Godin’s ABC book. Looks like I should get it. Thanks
p.s Authenticity.
Yo would love to see you write a book about the Authenticity at Barry Wehmiller.
SP
Great stuff here. I like the way you think (and write) about leadership.
Thanks Robert
Dan,
Thanks for offering this series. Back in January I started my own “Power Word” series for leaders. Your subscribers may want to check it out at http://tinyurl.com/powerwordsforleaders .
I may have to borrow a couple of the words from you list for my subscribers as the series continues as there are a couple that are a nice fit I haven’t offered yet.
I’m also going to refer my subscribers over to here as well for added value.
Thanks!
Skip
Thanks for extending the conversation! Best wishes
Hello Dan. leaders who have to think about the ABCs won’t be too successful.
Thanks Bob. … I’ll take the other view. Leadership is all about sticking with the basics… learning and then relearning them. Cheers
Dan, what a clever way to think about leadership. Can we look forward to 25 more posts like this? Good luck with “X” 🙂
Yup… I’m planning the whole alphabet. I did it a couple years ago. This time I’m looking to Facebook contributors to help with the words. I look forward to your participation…especially when we get to X and Z 🙂
Abracadabra! lol kidding, sort of. To sell is human was a fantastic book! attunement is what propelled Steve Jobs to come up with very intuitive leaps as a main example. People too often want the power and the position of prestige. Sometimes leaders need to be reminded of your tips here. Great post. Glad you looked up alacrity, seen it, never looked it up! Now to look up adroit!! lol
Sometimes leaders try to pull rabbits out of their hats… usually not a good thing. 🙂
I agree completely. “To Sell is Human” is must reading.
Have a great week.
Dear Dan,
A good start of leadership.This will help to understand leadership traits and attribute on fundamental level. Attuning to organization is not easy. It needs observation, experience and introspection. It needs change in behaviour, attitude and the way of looking the world. Leaders should analyze what they can change and on what cost. Here cost is very much important. There are people who just keep on changing and adjusting to situation without knowing its long term cost. At the same time where, one need to change character, then attuning to situation is not good step. However, there are other options, like what to attune, what to change and what not. One need to make boundary of changes and limitation. Blinding following anything might put you in trouble.
My favorite A for leaders is alignment and authenticity. Leaders should align to the goal and vision. And while doing so, they should reflect a great sense of authenticity in character and behaviour.
Thanks Ajay.
I love alignment! It’s a great A word. Alignment doesn’t feel like force or pressure. Alignment sets us free with focused energy and passion.
Great post, Dan.
According to Merriam Webster’s online dictionary- Attunement means “To bring into harmony”- an important characteristic of effective, engaging leadership.
The question is- attunement to what?
Leaders need to solicit and consider all stakeholders perspectives.
I think your earlier posts, though, suggest the following boundaries and priorities with respect to attunement:
Attunement to “who” ( character) before “what” (process), and attunement to “where/ why” ( progress toward Vision/ Mission) over “how” ( process).
Without the anchor of clear values and the north star of an inspiring vision, leaders risk getting lost and dis-focused- trying to balance various competing perspectives.
Thanks for these thought-provoking posts!…
Well, you want Authentic!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Add another A
AA, then get the book, free to read on the internet. Google AA Big Book. Then substitute “people, places and things where it says alchohol and begin your journey to your own Authenticity.
If you DO this, not scoff, not ignore, (sadly, you probably won’t due to the enormity of your ego and your complete belief you know it all and I know nothing!!!!! hehe) THEN you will start the process of becoming Authentic and when you DO this you begin to send out as vibration(I know deep, huh for me!!!!!! LOL) and people can feel it!
You cannot transmit what you do not have. Can’t give a dude an apple if you got an orange in your outstreched hand. Get your own house in order.
Not only one way to do this, I get it, this is just a way that worked for me. hey not saying it will work for you.
In the book it does say, “Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed this path.” Goes on to say(paraphrasing) some people cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program. They do not seem to be at fault, they are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty.They seem to have been born that way.
So these 12 Steps to Freedom of the bondage of Self won’t work for you if you are one of “those” people! hehe If you are not it will, if you DO.
Oh yeah, what happens when you a-tune? Sounds make a vibration! When you get tuned you vibrate, actually you tune and vibrate either way. Just got to decide what you want the tune you vibrating to feel like to yourselves and the folks who feel you!
I Concur!
Shifterp Back In!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS I Boldly ASK, who among us is Authentic when 7 out of 8 people in America hate their jobs and we call ourselves Leaders? How Authentic is THAT???????????????????????????????? If it does not bother you we are failing you are not Authentic, in my opinion!
Love the word authentic. Still figuring it out.
And the thumbs downers with no explanation makes me goofy!!!!
Do not mind disagreement Dan, just have the GUTS to state what you do not like!!! Lol I do!!!!
Bring your angst out into the light.
So what is it a suggestion that The 12 Steps might benefit you?
Fact the gallop poll says 7 out if 8 people hate their jobs in America? Don’t like the facts take it up with gallop!!!!!! Hehe
Idea the people the 12 Steps do not work for are constitutionally incapable if being honest with themselves? I did not write that, just shared it!!!!
That Barry Wehmilller practices People Centric Leadership and 72% of their employees love working for them? Wake up they are doing better!!!!!
What is there not to like and agree with and want to know more about????
It is not sounding like a mouth breathing knuckle dragging lackey blindingly getting giddy everytime you share something?
Heck Dan Iove your blog but I don’t always agree with everything you write.
When I do not agree I don’t hit the thumbs down without explaining. I let you know!!
Just don’t get the cowardly thumbs down with no explanation!! Don’t get it at all.
If there was one thing I would alter here it would be no thumbs down without pecking out what you do not like or agree with.
I know putting everything about leadership into a pile and burning it kinda sucks!!! I get it but the bottom line is if the result of our Leadership is 7 out of 8 people hate their jobs we are leading them in what do you suggest we do with that collection of knowledge, strategies and techniques? Repeat them with glee in-ad-nausiem?? Really?
I mean really!!!! I know it is a hard pill to swallow but we are failing the people we have been entrusted to lead.
I see it and I do notice it and I am open for what is gonna be more effective! You?
Hope others are too!
SP back in!!!!
Authenticity. There is too much bullshit, and too much hype about too many of today’s leaders. This is really sad, as I find that the image is more important than the person.
Thanks Rajiv. One of the things I feel is people want me to be more than I am. It’s seductive and pulls me away from authenticity.
Authenticity would be my add also. Can be elusive and hard to discern, but worth the effort.
Great list, Dan. Wish I had been the genius who submitted “alacrity.” 🙂
Thanks Dan! Have an A+ day!
Dave Ps.119:105 <
The more time I spend under terrible bosses (including the time I was a bad defensive business owner but decent leader) the more I realize that these aren’t just traits lacking in bad leaders. These are traits frighteningly lacking in much of humanity. I’m sincerely shocked at how many adults I meet, especially men, who cannot even fathom that everybody else isn’t in thrall to their obvious superiority. This lack of self awareness truly bugs me in people, not just my terrible bosses.
Authentic, alignment, alive, ambitious, audacious, action-oriented, adept, approachable, attentive, appreciative, astute, aware (or for your French readers “au courant” 🙂 )
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