Leading with HEART

Guiding Principles for Transformational Leaders

Have you ever wondered what makes a leader truly effective?

In this article, I present a compelling approach to leadership-leading with HEART. It will highlight the qualities of Humility, Empathy, Authenticity, Resilience, and Trustworthiness (HEART) that are desirable and crucial for effective leadership. This is not an all-encompassing list. It is a foundation heart list designed to enlighten and inform you about the essential qualities that make a leader truly effective. 

In the previous month's post, we discussed the crises of leadership, particularly the scarcity of good leadership.

Skills are essential, no doubt. But what sets a leader apart is what's in their heart. Let's take a closer look at some of these qualities. To make it easy to remember, I've adapted the acronym H.E.A.R.T.

• Humility

Humility is typically defined as a modest view of one's importance and consideration of others. However, it's crucial to understand that humility doesn't mean disregarding one's needs. Neglecting one's well-being can limit one's ability to assist others. For instance, consider a leader who always prioritizes the needs of others but overlooks their own physical, spiritual, and mental health. Such a leader might eventually require assistance to lead effectively due to exhaustion and burnout. This highlights the importance of self-care in leadership, empowering you to take responsibility for your well-being.

Humility involves clearly understanding oneself, recognizing strengths and weaknesses, and acknowledging that everyone is prone to making mistakes. It is not obsessing with oneself but viewing oneself accurately and caring for oneself. It's about being open to learning and growth, accepting limitations, and giving oneself the time to rest and recharge. Additionally, it entails acknowledging the contributions of others and being receptive to learning from different experiences and perspectives.

"The accurate measure of leadership is humility.

- Rick Warren

Although humility may not be the most famous trait, it is arguably the most important.

In his global reach and extensive experience coaching leaders, John Maxwell has identified a lack of self-awareness as a significant problem among leaders. Developing self-awareness is a continuous process that requires consistent effort. While it may be challenging to cultivate this trait in your 20s and 30s when striving to establish yourself professionally, there is always time to start working on it.

One practical tip for developing self-awareness is regularly reflecting on actions and their impact on others. (I include a guiding question at the end of each post.)

• Empathy

One of the traits I truly admire in the leaders I look up to is their willingness to listen. On my 40th birthday, I received a pair of headphones engraved with the words 'listen well' as a gift. This gift has become a part of my personal development plan for the fourth decade of my life, reminding me of the importance of empathy in leadership. It symbolizes genuinely listening to others, a trait unfortunately rare in leaders. It has since guided my interactions with my team and colleagues, reminding me constantly to strive to understand their perspectives and needs. This personal journey might resonates with many of you who are also on a path of self-improvement and leadership development.

'Listen well' is not just about being silent while others speak. It's about listening with compassion and understanding, a trait unfortunately rare in leaders. Most of us lack the patience for authentic listening, which is evident even when we're not speaking. By emphasizing the rarity of this trait, we can inspire our audience to cultivate empathy and make their teams feel valued and understood. The scarcity of empathy in leaders underscores its importance and the need for more leaders to embody this trait.

• Authenticity

Authenticity is not just about being true to oneself and genuine; it's about being honest, transparent, and consistent in one's actions, words, and values without pretending to be someone else or hiding behind a facade. Authentic leaders are comfortable with who they are, acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses, and express themselves sincerely and consistently. For instance, a genuine leader will admit their mistakes and take steps to rectify them instead of covering them up or shifting the blame. However, maintaining authenticity in leadership can be challenging, especially in situations where there are conflicting interests or pressures. 

One strategy to overcome this challenge is regularly reflecting on your values and aligning your actions.

By underlining the significance of authenticity in leadership, we empower our community to embrace their unique leadership style and feel confident in their abilities.

• Resilience 

The constant change and global crises put leaders in a continuous realm of setbacks, adversity, and challenges. Bouncing back from adversity has become the new norm in leadership. By emphasizing the role of resilience in leadership, we motivate our people to overcome challenges and bounce back from adversity.

In such situations, the attitude of the heart plays a significant role, as leaders may have to continue working with some of the people who caused the problem. To maintain a positive attitude toward change and adapt, leaders must differentiate between the challenges and difficulties people bring and view them as individuals.

In my upcoming post, I will share more on this topic, discussing my personal and professional experiences coaching leaders and lessons learned in self-differentiating leadership. I'll also provide practical strategies for building resilience in leadership.

• Trustworthiness

Trustworthiness is the non-negotiable currency of leadership. It involves being reliable and worthy of trust. For instance, keeping promises is a practical example of acting with honesty and integrity in your entrusted relationships. While mistakes are unavoidable, consistency in behavior is crucial. Leaders need to be predictable and act with honesty and integrity in their entrusted relationships. Trustworthiness in leadership cannot be overstated, as it forms the foundation of all successful relationships and endeavors.

Leadership is not about being perfect; it's about serving others with your whole heart." - Unknown.

🖌️ Capture the essence of this article and schedule some precious moments for introspection with these guiding prompts:

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From genuine humility that fosters connection to unwavering trustworthiness that builds strong relationships, how do these qualities shape your leadership style and empower positive change within your teams?

Lead with HEART, and let your leadership journey be a beacon of inspiration for those around you.

Till next time, you'll be able to lead with HEART, lead WELL.