Unlock the Heart of Leadership
Fear rules heartless organizations.
I joke that I’m from Maine. We have feelings on Christmas Eve and the Fourth of July. I’m not a touchy-feely. But the truth is, I care.
Maybe leaders need Caring Anonymous. “Hi, I’m Dan, and I hide my emotions.”
Hiding your heart creates distance. Being seen takes courage.
3 Reasons Leaders Fear Heart
- People will confuse caring with weakness.
- Results will be replaced by warm fuzzy feelings.
- Tough issues won’t be confronted.
Leadership is influence. Influence requires connection. Emotion is the fiber of connection.
I’ll follow a leader who gets misty about people, purpose, and progress. If you don’t care, go home.
4 Ways to Unlock the Heart of Leadership
- Choose to be seen. Vulnerability creates energy. Hiding blocks fulfillment.
- Bring soul to hard conversations. Care more when you’re tempted to protect yourself. Weakness looks away. Leaders connect even when it hurts.
- Ask teams, “How might we care for each other as we move forward?” Only machines deliver results without emotion.
- Raise the bar—people are worth it. Say:
- You have more in you.
- Let’s break through issues that hold you back.
- How might I row with you? (Don’t do people’s jobs for them.)
Success without heart is failure in disguise.
Emotion doesn’t block leadership. It enables it.
Look around your office. Do you see leaders who care?
Why are so many leaders afraid of emotion?
What’s one bold step you could take today to express care?
5 Ways to Teach Your Face to Express Your Heart
I have Scandinavian roots, so I don’t express emotion easy – even writing here is a challenge. I like Teddy Roosevelt’s statement that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
Inspiration doesn’t come from great speeches or grand vision. It comes from connecting that vision to people. A need to change results in change when the individuals involved in the change decide to change. In my experience, the most successful leaders are those who connect the “why” of change with individual perspectives.
Thanks again, Dan, for the reminder that we are all human.
Thanks, Ryan. Your statement, “(people) change when the individuals involved in the change decide to change,” speaks to me. It’s easy to slip into the idea that telling people to change = leading change.
I appreciate you overcoming your reluctance to comment.
“If you don’t care, go home” is gospel-level truth!
Connecting on a human level requires us to not only show feelings but to accept the feeling expressing by others. Investing time to listen when we would rather jump in and share our own views is a significant aspect of leadership with heart.
Love this message Dan Rowcliffe.