Be the Change you want to Lead to inspire employees.
When it comes to conscious leadership practices, there are numerous ways to inspire employees and build a thriving organization. However, there are three practices that hold the key to unlocking true leadership greatness. These practices hinge on how a leader shows up. Embrace the triumphant trio of modeling, authenticity, and transparency. In this blog post, we will delve into the captivating world of conscious leadership and discover how these three practices can inspire the best from your team.
In this podcast (click to jump down):
- The Triumphant trio of modeling, authenticity, and transparency
- Modeling: Model what you preach to inspire employee
- Transparency: Guiding Values are not just hung in the foyer.
- Authentically communicate the collective direction.
- What can you do now to make your contribution count?
By Suzanne F. Stevens, Conscious Leadership and Social Contribution Cultivator, Founder, YouMeWe Social Impact Group Inc., Part of the Nobody Wants to Work Series.
The Triumphant trio of modeling, authenticity, and transparency
Yetnebersh Nigussi, Co-Founder of the Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development, shares her valuable insights on inspiring supporters and expanding reach by leading through action rather than words. She believes that leaders should not simply tell others how to do things; instead, they should lead by example (Often easier said than done). By being a risk-taker and taking the maximum risk themselves, leaders can inspire others to learn and grow. Furthermore, having successors who can maintain the change and processes that have been initiated is crucial for sustained progress.
When you think of some of the most impactful leaders throughout history, like Mother Teresa, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., or Mahatma Gandhi, they inspired others through DOING rather than TELLING them what to do. Unlike government officials who didn’t want people to travel during the pandemic and then go to their cottage or the Caribbean. (A great example of do what I say, not what I do.)
Now, I suspect the triumphant trio of modeling, authenticity, and transparency is not new to you. However, I have often found that what I know and do can be a disconnect. A reminder definitely helps bring it back to my consciousness, preparing me for action.
So, let’s dive in.
Modeling: Model what you preach to inspire employees
Leaders cannot build a conscious and successful organization unless they do what they say. If you want innovation, be innovative. If you want others to trust you, trust them. If you want people to be on time for meetings, be punctual yourself. And, if you want to focus, then put away your phone!
By living out the values and behaviors they expect from their colleagues, leaders set the tone for a culture of accountability and inspiration.
Transparency: Guiding Values are not just hung in the foyer.
One Conscious Leader I worked with embedded organizational values in all communications through emails, town halls, or one-to-one conversations. They even removed the values framed in the foyer to inspire the message… values are not façade, but what we emulate. And it worked. It was one of the few companies I collaborated with that I wasn’t the only person in the room who actually knew the organizational values.
Organizations must embed their values into every aspect of their operations. Values should guide decision-making processes, and employees should be promoted based on their alignment with these values. It is not enough to hang values in the foyer; they should be lived and demonstrated throughout the organization. Communicating values regularly and celebrating colleagues who exemplify them fosters a culture where everyone understands and embraces the shared purpose.
In the spirit of transparency, employee evaluations should be measured against those values so all colleagues know how to advance in responsibility and salary.
Transparency removes ambiguity and empowers individuals to make informed decisions, propelling the organization forward.
Authenticity: Authentically communicate the collective direction.
Conscious leaders inspire colleagues to take ownership of the company’s vision, mission, and values. By openly and authentically communicating where the organization is heading, leaders provide clarity and purpose. When colleagues understand their roles in achieving the collective goals, they are more likely to innovate, collaborate, and perform at their best. In order to inspire others to be courageous, collaborative, and conscious, leaders must hold themselves to the highest standard.
When everyone understands the direction they’re heading and how their contributions matter, they become motivated, engaged, and invested in the journey.
Leaders who model by practicing what they preach are transparent by embedding guiding values into every decision and authentically communicate the collective direction to inspire their colleagues to excel. By leading through action and setting an example, leaders create a culture of accountability and inspiration that drives the organization’s success.
Remember, inspiring leadership starts with you. Be the change you want to lead. Your authenticity and transparency will empower and inspire others to follow your lead, resulting in a conscious and successful organization. Let’s create a workplace where everyone feels inspired, valued, and motivated to make a positive difference.
What can you do now to make your contribution count?
To become an inspiring leader, start by reflecting on your own actions and behaviors. Are you practicing what you preach? Are you actively embedding guiding values into your decision-making processes? Are you communicating the collective direction of your organization with authenticity and transparency? By taking these steps, you can inspire and motivate your colleagues to reach new heights of success.
I would love to hear how you inspire your employees. Please share below so we all can elevate our Conscious leadership practices.
Let’s do this! 