Photo courtesy of FREEPIK.com
As leaders, we are constantly barraged with articles, blogs and videos filled with tips and tricks on how to be exceptional at what we do. We have all read countless titles like The Top Ten Traits of Great Leadership, What It Takes to Be a Great Leader, and so on. Today, I want to talk about something a little different; I want to talk about the right to be human while still being a great leader.
Let’s face it, as humans, there are times when we have less patience than we normally expect from ourselves (well at least this is true for me); at the foundation of this irksomeness often lies triggers from others like unfulfilled expectations, lack of commitment and perhaps a general question regarding motivation. There are times I feel frustrated when I get the impression that people are trying to push their responsibilities back onto my plate or that, for whatever reason, critical thinking has escaped them.
Recently, someone I know was tasked with inviting people to an event for another organization; and that other organization had decided on the registration tool. When this person ran into trouble, I was somehow pulled into the mix. “Blair, the registration tool isn’t working. What should I do?” Truth be told, I was more than just a little annoyed – I was angry – and I let it show. I was being redirected from my revenue generating activities to address an issue that was not my own nor should reasonably be expected to be solved by me. I mentioned to the individual that this was not my monkey (not even close) and to please reach out to the person at the organization who is responsible for registrations. To me, this didn’t require a great deal of thought; my gut told me that this person was lacking ownership of the task, was perhaps being a little lazy and was in fact attempting to push a problem over to me that simply didn’t belong to me. I was tense, frustrated and, as I mentioned, angry; all traits that you won’t likely find in any Top Ten Leadership Traits article.
But here is the deal. No matter how great we are as leaders, from time to time, the Human Factor can and will rear its ugly head. Most often, leaders deftly handle the innate challenges of working with and leading people (frustrations, drama, lack of ownership, etc.) But what happens when, as a leader, we lose our cool, show our frustration or run out of patience? Most often in these situations, we stop listening actively, we don’t think things through as clearly as we normally would, we are abrasive rather than constructive in our assessment of the situation, we tend to dictate rather than advise… you get the idea.
So, what is a great leader like you to do when the Human Factor drops by for a visit? First and foremost, be okay with it. The fact remains that you are indeed human and mistakes will happen. Then consider:
- An Apology. If you want and if it is appropriate, you can apologize after the fact. Or not. It is your business, so you don’t have to atone for every mistake made.
- A Time Out. If you do find that you are in a space where everyone and everything seems to be pushing your buttons, take a break. Take a walk – sunshine and fresh air can do wonders. Hit the gym, meditate or journal.
- An Escape. One of the things I have been known to do is to escape to the movies in the afternoon. Just me. A total escape from everything going on. I emerge re-energized.
- A Respite. Leave the office on time, maybe even early. Get a good night’s sleep. Take care of yourself. It will help you take care of others.
So, great leaders, understand that normal emotions and reactions will sometimes overshadow those stellar leadership qualities you usually project; but don’t be afraid to be human as you lead your team to success.
By Blair Koch
