The most successful leaders draw people to them. They are authentic and they make time for people…and they are there to help.  Many leaders change who they are and how they behave once they enter the workplace. It doesn’t take long for people to work out that they are really someone else.

I’m always reminded of the saying from Oscar Wilde:

‘Be yourself, everyone else is taken.’

Leaders who show genuine care and concern for others are more likely to be approachable when people really need help and support. We are all busy at work, but taking the time to stop and talk to people, to get to know them at a more personal level can make an enormous difference. Having an open door policy that is widely known throughout the organisation sends a clear message that the leader is always available to listen regardless of their busy role. 

I’m a strong believer in the saying from John C Maxwell:

‘People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.’

It’s also important for leaders to get involved in what I call the ‘life of the organisation’. There are lots of activities that happen in organisations that involve different areas of the business. Visiting external sites, attending team meetings and joining in social activities and team building activities is not only fun but also a time when people get to see who the leader really is.

What are some of the things that you do to engage with people within your organisation?

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As a leader, it’s important to understand your own philosophy and approach to leadership. This is part of knowing yourself and being yourself. I believe that this is critical in order to be an authentic and effective leader. I believe that leadership is about who you are, not what you do. That is why I’m currently writing some articles demonstrating some of the core values that I believe make a great leader. In my first article, I provided tips around the value of a leader being a lifelong learner. 

Another core trait of a strong leader, in my opinion, is having concern for others.

‘People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.’ This is a favourite saying of mine that guides what I do everyday. Acceptance is a core value of mine. I’m a strong believer in accepting the place that people are at. You don’t necessarily know their story or what they are dealing with. It’s part of being non-judgemental and thinking of others with care and concern.

We all travel a fine line in life.

We all travel a fine line in life. At any point in time you can be on either side of that line as a result of circumstances outside your control. This has certainly been the case at certain times in my life, and it has taught me to be mindful of other people’s journeys. 

Genuinely care for other people. Be compassionate and treat people with respect. It’s the quality and character of the leader that will ultimately determine results, both for yourself and – more importantly – for many others.

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