Wanting the Best for One Another

“Before you can inspire others to follow, you must make it clear to those you lead that you have their best interest at heart. And before you can have their best interest at heart, you have to know them deeply. You have to know their joys and dreams. You have to know their passions, strengths, and interests. You have to know their challenges and struggles. You have to be familiar with those forces outside of the work environment that impact the work experience. Do you know their families? Do you understand their backgrounds? Do you consider their hopes and aspirations for the future? The better you know them, the better you can lead them. To put it another way, you cannot lead those you do not love. And you cannot truly love people until you know them deeply and are ready to respond to them personally. When you know people deeply, you can inspire them and tap into their passions and strengths to help them find meaning and fulfillment in their work. The art of leadership is to connect each person’s unique giftedness to corporate objectives in a meaningful way (p. 86-87).”

From: Ross, R. (2019). Relationomics: business powered by relationships. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Questions for Reflection:

• How do you connect with others on your team?
• What do you do to get to know someone deeply?
• How can you use a connection that you've made in the workplace to be a better leader?