Leaders are constantly figuring out the best course of action to resolve or promote ideas hoping to produce results that will favorably impact the organization. However, the process of decision making is often marred by emotional, cognitive, and relationship impairments that conduce counter-productive feedbacks. Leaders that invest in their own emotional awareness are more likely to positively connect with their team members. Leadership is an art, not a science; poor execution of emotional interconnectedness has negative consequences. Managers may climb up in the organization ladder due to their selling skills only to fail in the leadership role. The “Ideal Self” brings an opportunity to invite self-curiosity into what has not been working right while re-evaluating the changes leaders need to personally make to improve the relationship with peers. Unless a true and consistent effort is made, ineffective leaders will be guided by conflictive habitual patterns.
Taking leadership roles may actually obscure the opportunity to develop insight of his behavior. Managers may put too much effort in pleasing their bosses at the expense of disconnecting with the individual that report to them. A leader who is perceived as having difficulty taking in differing ideas or opinions from workers will most likely lead with his/her eye folded. As a consequence, misreading personnel entices mistrust and lack of enthusiasm. To counter-balance this limitation, effective leaders need to unveil what changes need to be made in his/her personality in order to invite and accept honest feedback.
The political “good behavior” in the corporate world is often invited by the drive to move ahead at the expense of sabotaging peer relationships. Personal values are often left aside. On the contrary, an emotionally attuned leadership style that emphasizes self-growth, professional inclusiveness, and ethical standards will eventually pay off in solidifying true attunement. Such a powerful sense of belonging and participating to reach for a common goal is a recipe individual and team progress.
To improve your leadership effectiveness:
1. Leaders need to invest time and effort in promoting their own sense of emotional balance if they want to emotionally connect with others;
2. Invite and encourage the expression of different opinions.