6 Things Really Thoughtful Leaders Do
To
be a thoughtful leader is to be greatly admired and deservedly so. The brain is
a sadly under-utilized organ. A little effort can make a big difference in
gaining the respect that goes with being thoughtful. Here are 6 traits of really
thoughtful leaders for you to emulate as 2013 draws to a close.
1. They
Observe
Thoughtful
leaders crave stimulus to get their mind working. That's why their powers of
observation are always hard at work. They are masters of watching and listening
to everything happening. They observe the world moving around them and notice
behavior, culture and patterns with great interest. When
engaging with people they have heightened awareness of their tone, mood and
feelings. You can see they are actively engaged. Try spending an hour in a busy
environment just looking and listening. Take notes on what you see and hear,
or better yet shut off your inner voice and just take it all in.
2.
They Explore
Thoughtful
leaders are naturally curious. Their insatiable need for knowledge drives them
to open closed doors, dissect the mundane and analyze alternative concepts.
They can spend hours surfing the web or weeks traveling abroad. Questions
starting with who, what, where, why and how are second nature to them. In
conversation they will probe and prod, looking
for deeper answers and
hoping to get to the core truth. No idea or suggestion is poor at the outset;
rather all possibilities are worthy of open consideration. Expand your
perspective beyond your normal sphere. Make an attempt to engage people and
ponder ideas that are outside your usual, comfortable approach.
3. They
Reflect
Thoughtful
leaders understand the value of deep thinking. Although perfectly capable of
making reflexive decisions when required, they prefer to ponder and live with
big dilemmas and decisions. They think about the potential implications for
themselves and the other people around them. They consider carefully the people
they impact and use skilled communication to instill comfort and confidence in their
teams. They know that a slow "yes" is better than a fast
"no" and will apportion appropriate time and energy to each
opportunity. Begin adding time to your decision process. Using a journal,
create a 1--5 rating for the seriousness of your decisions and determine a set
time to decide that allows you to consider all angles. Try this for a
week and you'll learn how to manage your thinking for both depth and
efficiency.
4. They
Learn
Thoughtful
leaders love to get smart. Their insatiable need for knowledge drives
them to read, discuss and absorb complex concepts and broad perspectives. No
amount of information is enough for them to feel complete and accomplished. The
joy of the learning journey thrills them more than any degree or accolade.
Their deep interest in other people is genuinely derived from their desire to
understand. Set out three new challenging skills to learn over the next
year. You'll not only gain the subject knowledge required, but you'll
stimulate your desire and aptitude to learn more.
5. They
Consider Others
Thoughtful
leaders are naturally empathetic. They have a love of humankind and are
fascinated by offensive or bizarre behavior rather than affronted by it. At
their core they understand the concept of cause and effect, thinking about how
to get the most desired reaction for the effort extended. They make people
around them feel important and worthy of time and energy. Examine your actions
from the perspective of others. Think through your decisions from the
perspective of your adversaries. You may find more win-win scenarios than you
previously thought possible.
6. They
Take Action
Thoughtful
leaders are rarely stuck in analysis paralysis. They know how to turn careful
thought into meaningful action. They understand that thought and exploration
without physical implementation and impact is selfish and wasteful. They won't
make people wonder if any good comes of all this thinking. They know when to
finish the thinking and make great things happen. Whatever great things you
have been pondering, it's time to put those thoughts into motion and achieve
your preferred destiny.
Kevin Daum http://www.inc.com/kevin-daum/6-things-really-thoughtful-leaders-do.html?cid=em01016week49a
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