“The first and most important choice a leader makes is the choice to serve, without which one’s capacity to lead is severely limited,” writes Robert Greenleaf, the servant leadership thought-leader. Although revenue, wins, and other metrics receive significant attention in leadership, underneath the surface great leaders make a significantly larger impact on people than on the bottom line. It’s a leader’s responsibility to impact people and to care for them. Here are five ways highly-effective leaders make an impact:
- Service: The first value that highly-effective leaders implement is service to others. Great leaders view their role in the organization as a service to its people and those who rely on them. The work they do in the company is never about them, but it is always about the people who work for them or the people they serve in society. An impact leader always views their work through the lens of a servant. How consistently do you serve others in your position?
- Grateful: The second value that impactful leaders possess is a grateful mindset each day. While they’re aware of the struggles and challenges, they are grateful for the people who work to make an impact for the organization each day. Many great leaders begin their days reflecting on what they’re grateful for, and they often end their days in the same way. Even through the stress and challenges, they find ways to show gratitude. How often do you show gratitude for the people and the work they do?
- Supportive: The third value of truly impactful leaders is that they are relentlessly supportive of the people who work for them. When they sit back and look at the organization, they consistently find ways to support the people doing the work. These leaders believe that one of their core roles is to find every way possible to support and make their people’s jobs easier. How effectively do you support the people you lead?
- Vulnerable: The fourth aspect of highly-impactful leaders is that they’re vulnerable in their own ways. These leaders share some of their own personal challenges or struggles to show their human side. Through being vulnerable and real, they build trust with the people they lead. Even highly-effective leaders struggle in certain ways, and they often show people those challenges. How consistently are you vulnerable with the people you lead?
- Empathetic: The final trait of significantly impactful leaders is that they’re empathetic. They truly try to understand the challenges that their people face each day. These impactful leaders also work to empathize with the challenges that humanity faces as well, and they work to solve problems to make the world a better place. When people come to them with issues, they listen and ask questions rather than always try to fix it. How well do you empathize with the human condition?
A leader’s impact is significantly deeper and wider than what most people see on a daily basis. Highly-effective leaders create an impact with their servant leadership for all people in the organization. Through their use of support, a grateful mindset, and vulnerability, great leaders help move their organizations to higher levels of success. Great leadership is always about much more than the bottom line or winning and losing.
How consistently do you make a positive impact on the people you lead?