7 Things People Want from Leaders
Most things people want from leaders benefit everyone.
Get out of leadership if you don’t care what people want from you. Leadership is about people. Learn to adapt to people, but don’t lose yourself.
Balance responsiveness with conviction.
5 Negative Outcomes of Disregarding Others:
- Resistance.
- Isolation.
- Poor decision-making.
- Disengagement.
- Turnover.
7 Things People Want from Leaders:
#1. Get jazzed about something.
Long-faced leaders exhaust everyone. Enthusiasm influences people. You don’t look important when you frown, you look depressed. Realistic optimism is attractive.
#2. Brag.
Let people hear you bragging about them to your boss. Tell others about extraordinary effort, remarkable results, and positive energy.
Bragging about yourself is ugly. Bragging about others fuels energy.
#3. Hang tough.
Stand with people when times are tough. The leaders we love the most share the struggle. Never let power be an excuse to insulate yourself from the rigors of work.
#4. Tell people how they’re doing.
Everyone who wants to do well wants constructive feedback. Explain how people earn opportunities.
#5. Don’t insult people with, “It’s easy.”
People resent being told their work is easy. Work you delegate is a challenge or opportunity. Easy is for losers.
#6. Tell people what’s important.
Ambiguity invites disengagement. It’s hard to commit to fuzzy objectives. Clear goals dignify effort.
#7. Get a life.
Enjoy life. Get a hobby. Have a life outside of work. Encourage others to do the same.
How to Give People What They Want:
- Listen deeply. Everyone wants to feel understood. They know you can’t say yes to everything.
- Say no kindly, but clearly. A river without boundaries is a swamp.
- Lead with vision. People want to feel relevant. Clear vision enables tough decisions.
Which of the things people want from leaders would you most like to see happen?
What can you add to the list of things people want from leaders?
Being a Leader that People Will Want to Follow | Lead Today
Remember to brag about others with sincerity. Bragging without sincerity implies a sycophant trying to get ahead on a foundation of falsehoods.
Good point, Michael. Disingenuous gratitude/bragging is manipulation.
Something that was really helpful to me about bragging or telling someone they did well is being specific. Instead of saying “You did great today,” say “I really liked the way you greeted those parents today. You had such a big smile and you were so enthusiastic. You brought a lot of energy to the meeting. That was awesome.”
Have your people’s backs. If something is causing them problems or frustration – don’t leave them hanging. Stand up for them when they are getting unfair pressure. I always feel more confident when my leader has my back. When they fold under pressure and leave me out on a ledge, I lose my will to work hard.
Everyone needs a “with”. Engagement, grit, and energy all increase when there’s someone standing beside us. The “Lone Ranger” approach is unrealistic and ineffective. Thanks for your insights, SB.
What people want from leaders is often what they can’t do for themselves at the current time.
At times, people need courage, confidence, direction, belief in themselves, and motivation.
The best leaders diagnose the situation and provide what is needed to help people move forward.
Powerful idea, “What people want from leaders is often what they can’t do for themselves at the current time.”
It feels like doing the opposite. When everyone runs, stand still. When everyone stands still, run. When everyone talks, hold your tongue.
Good point Paul.
Great post today, Dan, with great reminders as to why we should be doing what we are doing. “Leadership is about people.” Love it. If we are in leadership for ourselves, whether it is money, accolades, ego, we have missed the entire point.
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