I’ve worked for a lot of different leaders in my 30-year career. There was one manager who told me that social media was just a fad and we shouldn’t waste our time with it. And there was another who falsified expense reports using my name. But I’ve also had the opportunity to work with some very inspiring leaders—individuals who provided vision, grace, intelligence and enthusiasm. Looking at your career, which boss stands out the most?
In this issue of Promotional Consultant Today, we’re sharing these five tenets from business author Scott Mautz on how you can be an inspiring, unforgettable leader for your employees.
As part of the research for his book, Find the Fire, Mautz interviewed over 1,000 employees and 1,000 managers as he sought to determine exactly what makes a leader special. His research uncovered these five themes.
1. Create Meaning. A sense of meaning is what motivates employees in a manner that sustains. Foster meaning through actions such as being clear on the organization’s purpose, granting autonomy and encouraging each employee to define the legacy they want to leave behind. You also create meaning for employees when you invest in their personal growth and development, and help foster their sense of competence and self-esteem.
2. Consciously Care. In Mautz’s research, this was a clear theme yet over two-thirds of employees said their boss did not genuinely care about them. Provide recognition (tailoring to employee preferences for how they like to be rewarded), ensure employees have robust personal growth and development plans, and show respect.
3. Decide And Communicate The Decisions. Nothing is more crippling to an organization than a leader who can’t or won’t make the call. Organizational clarity starts with a leader who not only decides but also invests the time to over-communicate decisions. As a leader, you can decide to just decide and better yet, enroll key stakeholders in those decisions along the way.
4. Set A Vision And Connect The Dots. It’s vital that leaders set a compelling, inspiring vision that focuses employees. It should be a vision grounded in strategic objectives and the values of the company. When you set such a vision, employees show up with conviction and are passionate about building something together that makes a difference in something that matters. It’s just as important that the vision is then consistently communicated and that the leader helps each employee understand what their unique role is in delivering the vision.
5. Practice “Relaxed Intensity.” This means striking a balance between seriousness and a commitment to win with the camaraderie and fun it takes to win on a sustained basis. As a leader, you can role-model a relaxed intensity by visibly having fun at work and being authentic and approachable while at the same time having a fierce desire to win and surpass goals.
PCT returns tomorrow with more tips for business success.
Source: Scott Mautz is the author of Find The Fire: Ignite Your Inspiration and Make Work Exciting Again. He’s also an award-winning keynote speaker and a seasoned Procter & Gamble veteran who successfully ran several of the company’s largest multibillion-dollar businesses. He’s the CEO of Profound Performance, an online entrepreneur and an adjunct professor at Indiana University. Mautz writes and speaks passionately on how to work, lead and live fulfilled. Learn more about him and subscribe to a high-value stream of free content at his website.
