How to understand and inspire the people around you by Paula Leach

I believe that all leaders can simplify the often complex role that they have.  Firstly, by focusing on the key point of leadership which is to coordinate resources and people to support the movement of something from A to B.  And secondly, by distilling their job into two main aspects:  1) Creating clarity and 2) Getting out of the way and creating space for others.

Great leaders recognise that they are enablers and facilitators of productivity and achievement.  Whatever you are leading, whether it is a day to day operation or a huge transformation project or a movement for change, the principle of leadership remains the same.  To enable others to work collectively to create that movement.

LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT EMOTIONS

Engaging people to bring their best creativity, innovation, productivity and effort is inherently a human endeavour.  People bring their best when they believe in what they are working towards and they have some autonomy or control over how they contribute.  We all need to feel an emotional investment in order to bring out that extra discretionary effort.

In order to give to others authentically and create an understanding based on empathy, we need to have high levels of self awareness.  We need to deeply know, accept and love our strengths and our challenges.  This level of calm acceptance of ourselves, enables us to be free of our own judgements and emotional responses or at least to be aware enough to acknowledge them, such that they are not in the way of our service to others.

INSPIRATION REQUIRES CLARITY AND A DEEPLY COMPELLING ‘WHY’

We are all seeking inspiration and are hardwired to be drawn to put our efforts towards something that has meaning to us.  A leader needs to create agency in others by inspiring action and effort.  Clarity is important so people can see a clear path and vision and what is important is that this is partnered with a reason for people to walk down this path that resonates with them at an emotional level.

There is a beautiful fable which illustrates the role a leader plays in understanding and inspiring others:

A man is walking down the street, he is wearing a heavy coat and going about his business quite reasonably.  The Sun and the Wind are in the sky looking down upon him.  The wind, feeling a little bored, challenges the sun : ‘I bet I can get the coat off that man’s back’!  The sun agrees to the challenge and settles back as the wind huffs and puffs.  The wind blows with all his might, but no matter how strongly he blows, the man pulls his heavy coat tighter and tighter around him.  Eventually the wind gives up.  The sun says ‘Shall I have a go?’.  ‘Yes’, says the wind ‘but if I can’t get the coat off I don’t see how you will!’.  The sun smiles.  And shines her brightest beams down upon the man.  After a while he stops, mops his brow and takes his coat off, flinging it over his arm and carrying on along the path.

Whenever I reflect upon this fable, I think of leaders getting out of the way.  We can all be more Sun.  By simply shining warmth upon the man, he had the agency to take off his own coat.