“Great leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure the impact lasts in your absence.”
Sheryl Sandberg
The long lasting effects of great leadership
Have you ever listened to a beautiful piece of music, masterfully delivered? Then remembered the way you felt during the delivery much later, even years later? When something wonderful touched you to the core, it remains with us, and the feeling of wonder can be recalled at any time. That is the long lasting effect of great leadership. It permeates the team members’ core, and the positive remains with them. The vibration also spreads beyond the first impact, it moves through the entire team, the families of those affected, and the community.
Unfortunately, the opposite effect is also possible. Many leaders leave their cringe-worthy memories and effects behind.
How great leaders leave positive vibrations
Acute self-awareness and self-regulation
The manner and demeanour you take onto the podium is the message to the orchestra about how this piece will be played. Every facial expression, pose and tone of voice is interpreted as a signal of how the music should be played. Practices such as reflection, skilled feedback and coaching strengthen this foundation.
Social awareness and social mastery, interpersonal skills
A powerful leader has excellent communication and people management skills that engage, motivate and inspire others. They know how to listen deeply and communicate effectively with others, how to provide feedback constructively and how to manage conflict successfully.
Cultural mastery
The culture is the sum total of everyone’s vibrations, most importantly, the leader’s. It is the sum of the sound produced by the orchestra. Being deliberate about the intended culture of the organization makes leadership a bit easier down the line, the positive vibrations become “the way we do things around here”.
The measurable outcomes of great leadership
When leaders excel at these three aspects of great leadership, they reap quantifiable rewards: increased employee engagement, reduced turnover, and enhanced productivity. These are the long lasting effects of great leadership that endure, even in your absence.
Bring great leadership to your organisation
If you want to cultivate the long lasting effects of great leadership in your organisation, Sage and Summit partners with leaders and teams through leadership coaching, executive coaching and tailored training. Connect with us to strengthen self-awareness, social mastery and culture by design.
