Hi First name / Industry Leader,
No matter where you sit on the org chart, if you're looking to become a better leader this year, my best advice is to prioritize empathy over education.
A lot of people try to educate their teams to success. They think making sure their team has clear instructions is all they need to do to lead them well.
In my experience, that's not the case.
Simply telling your team what to do won't ensure results or build trust and a strong team culture.
Leaning into empathy and understanding will.
Instead of merely educating your direct reports or colleagues, seek to help them understand why their work matters.
What's the purpose behind the task?
What team objectives are they helping accomplish?
When you're not seeing the results you might want, seek to understand why that might be. Instead of making the assumption your colleagues are lazy or aren't equipped for the job, look deeper.
Ask them why they think the results aren't there, and how they think you can best solve the problem together.
Lead with empathy. Prioritize open and honest communication.
People will be eager to follow along and journey with you.
Talk soon,
Josh
