LinkedIn post by Wolfgang Jenewein
Leadership is a matter of mindset, not of tools. Unfortunately, many leaders still haven’t understood this. Time and again, for example, I’m asked:
What is the best way to lead people? Which leadership model do you recommend? Or how should you approach taking over a team?
I usually respond: “A fool with a tool is still a fool.”
It’s not about tools or strategies when it comes to activating teams and individuals.
Before thinking about these things, you should first ask yourself:
Before thinking about these things, you should first ask yourself:
What is my philosophy—my mindset when dealing with people? Which values do I want to convey? And how do I want to be remembered?
It’s a bit like becoming a father or mother. In most cases, it’s a conscious decision—you choose to have a child.
You immediately feel a sense of responsibility for this being, and soon realize that it’s not as easy and effortless as you once imagined ;-).
Children have and create all kinds of problems: they are demanding, struggle to make friends, get bullied, lack motivation, or bring home poor grades.
And yet, as good parents, you always feel responsible. You try to understand the problem, listen to your child, seek others’ opinions, support them, and provide stability, love, and closeness. Not infrequently, you even ask yourself:
Am I perhaps the problem? Have we done something wrong in raising them?
It’s similar with leadership in organizations. Becoming a leader is also a conscious decision.
You take responsibility for people and their development. You have an influence on their lives and their happiness.
Those who are aware of this will better understand that employees—like children—have problems:
They seek attention, get into conflicts, don’t understand the goals, or deliver poor results.
Anyone who, as a leader, feels responsible for these problems like a mother or father, who listens and tries to help their employees, who builds trust and closeness, and perhaps even looks for the fault within themselves—instead of trying to solve problems with a new KPI, a new process, or another reorganization—has understood what good leadership is all about.
How do you see it? And what is your mindset or metaphor when it comes to dealing with people?
Warm regards,
Yours, Wolfgang
