13th November 2020
Inspiring your people in a changing world – We’ve forgotten about people Leadership
People are the lifeblood of our sector. Without great people, who are realising their full potential daily, we are unable to provide memories, adventures or experiences. Our people are the lynchpin to our success or failure of a business. They are the reason for loyal customers who return time and time again; and, they are the reason we, as businesses, have the ability to grow, profit and prosper.
Though employees can only be truly great if they are given the opportunity to be so. Their skills and talents need to be spotted, nurtured, developed, supported and given the chance to thrive.
Somewhere along the way, we’ve forgotten about people leadership. The importance of creating relationships, being authentic, engaging in that individual’s journey. Realising that we, as people leaders, aren’t just giving people a ‘job’; we’re giving them the ability to live – support their families, own homes, raise their children, enjoy life.
We must be empathetic, assertive, astute and, perhaps most importantly, authentic. We’re the connection between real life and work life. We’re the people our teams look to for direction, guidance, inspiration and confidence. We’re the role models; walking the talk. If we’re calm, they are calm. If we’re determined, they are too.
That’s the DNA of a true people leader and how we can influence.
The best thing we, as leaders today, can do is give ourselves the time and energy to go back to leadership 101. Starting with the foundations of our leadership frameworks – understanding our values, our skills and our talents. Knowing how we work and what that means for our leadership style.
We need to create better work experiences. More opportunities to offer ideas, share insight and implement suggestions. We need to let our people fall over more, yet help them get back up and learn from their mistakes. We need to build resilience, empathy, authenticity – we need leaders who put their people at the heart of their business strategy.
Leadership is, and must be, our personal responsibility. I would contend it’s this missing mindset which is why, as leaders, we often go wrong. As a leader, it’s our responsibility to hit our KPIs, manage budgets and ensure our goals are met. But it’s also your responsibility to make sure you are the best people leader you can be; a sustainable people leader who supports and enables a team of individuals to collectively and separately reach their full potential.
This blog is a part of the IW Official Guide: World Mental Health Day Supporting the workplace during the pandemic & beyond. Download the full guide here.