Leadership Strengthens Community

Leadership Strengthens Community April 23, 2013

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Creating and strengthening a productive community is central to leadership.

Leaders strengthen community when they make things clearer.

Leaders do the work that it takes to recognize and appreciate their own core values and principles, and mentor other people in doing that deep work as well. Leaders focus their values into vision that points the way, and goals and objectives that motivate people to grow and learn. Leaders translate when there is confusion, resolve conflicts that get in the way, and remember how we are putting our deep truths into practice.

Leaders strengthen community when they listen.

I know people who think that leadership is all about talking, writing, spreading the word. They believe that leaders need to be ready to express themselves at all times.

They forget that listening is at least half of communication. They forget that listening to someone pays them respect. They forget what it feels like when someone listens to you, deeply and honestly.

They forget that listening might be the most intimate thing you can do with another person in public.

Leaders appreciate the ways that listening recognizes that people have value, and strengthens community.

Leaders take time to listen, and create opportunities for people to listen to each other.

Leaders strengthen community when they recognize the potential of other people.

I have worked with people who acted as if they needed to control every aspect of every part of every action. Their perception, apparently, was that their value was based in their participation in each step of each process.

Leaders who need to control the details of every task themselves do not recognize the potential of the people around them. They are not leading, they are acting alone.

How does your leadership strengthen your community?

Do you spend more leadership time talking, or listening?

[Image by Broad Bean Media]


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