Assumption Is The Mother Of All Limitations
“Are good leaders born?” My client asked at the start of our session. “In my experience, transformational leaders are trained. What causes you to ask this question”, I responded.
“I’ve just been interviewed to lead a team of 12 people at work and I’m curious to know whether I’ll be a good leader”, he said.
“What makes you imagine you wouldn’t?” I probed.
“The senior manager told me that many people in this team are older than me and have worked in the company for a long time. He says they’re performing poorly and are unmotivated.”
“What questions did you ask him when he said that?”
“I asked whether he would support me in firing them if they continued to perform poorly. He said he would.”
“Wow, so you believed him?”
“Well he knows them and I don’t.”
“OK. And what assumption have you accepted to be true without knowing anything about these people, or asking any questions?”
“He’s sending me in to elevate their performance so there must be a problem with them.”
“And you’re assuming the problem is with the team and that some won’t change and the only option is to fire them?”
“Yes.”
“Is any other option possible? I mean, have you ever lost motivation in a job and rediscovered it for any reason?”
“Yes. But that was a result of having new colleagues in the team who took a different approach and we got on well.”
“So what causes you to focus on the idea that they won’t change and you’ll have to fire them? What would happen if you transferred your experience of personal motivation to this situation and applied it?”
“Perhaps I could take a different approach to what they’re used to and find a way to inspire them.”
“Now we’re talking! Shall we discuss how you could begin?” I asked.
Breaking Through Fear Boundaries Into Connection
Do you find yourself challenged to connect with every single member of your team? Are some team members easier to inspire, while others seem to plod along or be highly resistant to your ideas or suggestions? Have you ever scratched your head and wondered why?
Transformational leaders are not born with a special gift. They are trained to observe, to listen, and to connect emotionally with people. The most impactful leaders possess the vision and determination to ignite the fire within others, even when faced with the most resistant of team members. More than that, they have learned the skills.
In the ever-evolving landscape of modern leadership, the traditional fear-driven dictatorial approach is making way for a more impactful and transformative style. Welcome to a world where coaching and coaxing take centre stage, propelling organisations towards unprecedented success.
This paradigm shift in leadership recognises the profound impact that nurturing and empowering leaders can have on their teams. By prioritising employee development, fostering collaboration, and embracing adaptability, coaching and coaxing leaders cultivate an environment where individuals thrive and organisations flourish.
Let’s dive into seven compelling reasons why this progressive leadership style outshines its dictatorial counterpart, revolutionising the way we lead, inspire, and drive long-term growth.
7 Reasons Transformational Leaders Are Trained To Connect With Themselves & Their Teams
1. Get To Know Your Employees & Reap The Benefits
Coaching and coaxing leaders prioritise the development of their employees. They invest time and effort in understanding their team members’ values, beliefs, strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations.
By providing guidance, support, and feedback, they help employees grow and reach their full potential, resulting in a more skilled and motivated workforce.
2. Flat-Structured Collaboration
A coaching and questioning leadership style promotes a collaborative work environment. Instead of imposing decisions, dictatorial leaders, a coaching leader encourages open communication, active participation, and teamwork.
This incites a sense of ownership and empowers employees to contribute their ideas, enhancing creativity and innovation within the team.
3. Employee Engagement and Satisfaction
When employees feel valued and supported by their leaders, they are more engaged and satisfied with their work.
Coaching and growth-minded leaders create a positive and inclusive work culture that encourages trust, respect, and open dialogue. This helps in building strong relationships between leaders and team members, leading to higher levels of job satisfaction and loyalty.
4. Adaptability & Resilience
In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing business landscape, adaptability and resilience are crucial.
Coaching and nurturing leaders emphasise continuous learning and development, enabling employees to acquire new skills and adapt to changing circumstances.
By cultivating a growth mindset, these leaders help individuals and teams navigate challenges effectively and embrace change.
5. Sustainable Success & Achievement
While dictatorial leaders may achieve short-term results through command and control, this is merely a reflection of their own fear onto others.
A coaching and encouraging leadership style focuses on long-term success. By investing in employee development and creating a positive work environment, these leaders build strong and capable teams that can adapt, innovate, and thrive in the face of challenges.
This approach leads to sustainable growth and better overall organisational performance.
6. Empowerment & Autonomy
Dictatorial leaders tend to micromanage their employees, stifling creativity and autonomy. What’s more, delegation becomes increasingly difficult and employees become disengaged as they begin to feel they have less impact on the business as a whole.
In contrast, coaching and emotionally-engaged leaders empower their team members by delegating authority and providing them with autonomy. This not only increases job satisfaction but also fosters a sense of ownership and accountability, as employees feel trusted and respected.
7. Succession Planning
Coaching and encouraging leaders prioritise grooming future leaders within their teams. By mentoring and nurturing potential successors, they ensure a smooth transition of leadership and a continuous pipeline of talent.
This approach creates a culture of growth and advancement, motivating employees to stay with the organisation and aspire to leadership roles.
When employees can see a career path ahead of them they feel a greater level of impact in everything they do. They want to invest in the organisation for the long term and it allows business to retain talent in their teams.
The Language Connection That Transforms Leadership
The NLP approach that operates at the foundation of all of this is LANGUAGE. When we learn to identify and question assumptions in language, both our own and that of others, we learn to pinpoint how we are limiting our thinking.
Once we begin to notice how many limitations exist in our thought pattern by understanding the symbolic nature of language we learn now to question the obvious in a way that breaks the boundaries in our minds, unlocks creativity and expands a whole host of new opportunities. When we actively listen others and question their language we build a connection. We have a greater level of understanding and the other person feels as if they are ‘heard’.
It’s important to note that the effectiveness of leadership styles can vary depending on the context and the individuals involved. However, the coaching and cultivating approach generally encourages employee growth, collaboration, engagement, and long-term success, making it a preferred choice in many organizations.
Are You Ready To Transform Your Leadership Style?
Imagine a world where you easily connect with your team, galvanize their best work, and create a culture of collaboration and growth. It makes no difference whether you manage your team virtually or physically, the power of coaching language, observation, active listening, and emotional awareness will transform your leadership style.
Are you ready to unlock the full potential of your team and embrace a leadership style that will shape the future of success?
Send an email to info@sarahmerron.com to arrange a call to discuss online training and coaching for transformational leadership.
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