The Importance of a Leader Conecting with the People he Leads

The Importance of a Leader

Connecting with the People he Leads

Introduction: To earn the right to be followed, you have to touch people’s hearts. When people see that they matter to you as individuals, and that their concerns make a difference in what you do and don’t do, they will listen to what you say. Always take time to put yourself in their shoes. Their insight can be a valuable tool for determining what direction you should lead them.

Importance of Connection: The ability to connect is a quality you see in every great leader. No matter how much leadership talent or skills you possess, if you want to be a better leader, you must learn to connect with people effectively – not just for your own benefit, but for the benefit of your people. Do it, and it will raise your level of leadership dramatically. Do it well, and people will follow you anywhere. The stronger the relationship and connection between individuals, the more likely the follower will want to help the leader. When the vision of the leader becomes the aspiration of the people, the impact is incredible.

Great Leaders Know the Importance of Connection: Great leaders don’t expect their people to move forward and latch on to them. Instead, they reach out to people, no matter where they are, and work to make a connection. Connection with people isn’t complicated, but it takes a lot of effort. Whatever you have just taken over a leadership position or are well established in your organization, being connected to your people is vital to your success as a leader. Remember that the telltale sign of a great leader is not what he has accomplished on his own, but what he has been able to accomplish through people. That comes only as the result of connection. Great leaders learn that to be effective, they have to continually put their people first. That’s especially true of new leaders who want to gain the confidence and support of their people. But it’s also true of veteran leaders who desire to lead their people into new territory. If you don’t take the time to connect with your people, you will not be able to lead them effectively. A leader is not really the leader until he has connected with his people. The truth is that connecting with people is not an option for a leader.

Conclusion: Every leader faces the prospect of making changes to improve the connection with his people. The way that leaders deal with change says a lot about their effectiveness. Ineffective leaders often fear change at all costs and never break free of the status quo. The result: momentum eventually comes to a halt, and leadership becomes stagnant. On the other hand, effective leaders are teachable – their eyes and ears are always open to learn more, and they embrace change as a catalyst for growth and improvement. When it comes to developing productive relationships, flexibility is essential. The truth is that the work of connecting is never finished. True connection is an ongoing effort. But all great leaders know that no job is more important than their continual investment in people. The ability to connect with people is essential if you want strong, successful leadership.

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Reference: Maxwell, John C. The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000. Pp. 151-167