Three Traits of a Leader People Will Follow

Sri Amit Ray once said “If you do not lead by example, you cannot expect your team to follow.” All leaders want to set great standards for their teams. This is especially true in this post-pandemic business environment and the associated war for talent. Some people even make a living coaching leaders to be the best version of themselves (wink, wink!). So what does one of the experts say about how best to inspire others? Marcel Schwantes, contributing editor at Inc.com, has published a new article listing his insights on the three characteristics that set certain leaders above others.

First of all, inspiring leaders are selfless. Any exceptional leader knows that their role is not about ego. Whether the head of a country, business, or household, true leadership is about taking care of the needs of the people. Next, inspiring leaders are very good at listening. This blog has featured many articles over the years that discussed the advantages of “active listening”. Despite the name, active listening is actually quite passive. It simply involves listening without any agenda or prepared response. We are not all inherently good at this particular skill, but if it can encouraged, teams and individuals will flourish. And lastly, exceptional leaders serve their employees. This is the aspect of leadership that is perhaps most easily forgotten. Again, however, if those in leadership are able to put ego aside, it’s easy to see that improving the lives of employees is ultimately serving the greater good. Give the full article a read here, and see how you can better inspire your team and those around you.

Surface Pressure

Whether or not you have children at home, you have likely seen Disney’s new hit movie Encanto. Goodness knows millions of us have, and if you DO have children in your home, it’s likely you’ve seen it many times over. This film isn’t just popular with the young audience, either. Adults everywhere find themselves resonating with the various mental and emotional struggles each character is going through. Truly, it has brought the cultural conversation about mindfulness and emotional intelligence into the multi-generational mainstream in a way that only Disney could do.

So it is understandable that the new Inc.com article by Jeff Haden is getting some attention as well. In it, Haden discusses 3 science-backed ways to better manage stress. Citing several meta-analyses and his own personal experiences, Haden gives concrete advice that can be immediately applied to become more focused, more mindful, and ultimately let the stress we do feel pass over quickly and perhaps even gently. Give this brief but profound article a quick read and see if managing stress comes a little easier afterwards.