Author’s Note: Throughout the first half of the year, I’ll be using this weekly column to offer real-time, easily digestible leadership actions you can take to build a better workplace, become a highly-productive, future-ready leader and improve your leadership impact right now, today. Stay tuned to WRAL Techwire each Wednesday for the next edition of my weekly column as lessons will build atop each other. Last week, we talked about 2022 leadership trends

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – One story I hear often from my C-suite colleagues and the leaders I mentor is the incredible influence of their personal example when they’re starting to shift their workplace cultures. For instance, when they’re diving into diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as an organization-wide imperative, these leaders tell me the one thing that makes the biggest impact to move the needle for their business is their own commitment to DEI learning. 

At first, this feels surprising, but it really makes a lot of sense. By sharing where they are on their personal learning journeys, these leaders become live examples of transparency, humility and a growth mindset: the same traits they want their employees to develop. As leadership philosopher Albert Schweitzer wrote, “the three most important ways to lead people are by example… by example… by example.” Or, as Sepi Saidi phrased that same idea in an interview for my podcast, “I always believed that I can grow the firm to the extent that I can grow myself as a leader.” 

Donald Thompson: 5 leadership trends you can’t run away from 

A leader’s number one responsibility is to motivate their team toward a unified vision, inspiring excellence through their own actions and also by ensuring that the right processes, policies and structures are in place. Essentially, as the people in charge, we have three core capacities: management, leadership and transformation. I’ll be diving into each of these capacities throughout the next few months, giving detailed advice for daily habits you can adopt that will improve your business immediately. 

BETTER MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP & TRANSFORMATION

Much has been written about the difference between management and leadership in the workplace. As I’m defining it, management is how we set up the tasks and “stuff” of business – things like reporting structures, timelines, budgets, procedures, meeting agendas, yearly rhythms and more. Leadership, on the other hand, is how we guide, influence, and develop people, typically through communication, collaboration and mentorship. We manage systems and tasks, but we lead people. 

The part that’s sometimes confusing is that, especially in the C-suite or as a business owner, we often have to manage things by leading other people. For example, we may not have a direct hand in developing the company’s new, all-digital job application, but we can review the application along a predetermined timeline to edit and amend what our Human Resources leaders are already doing. By delegating effectively and providing clear, actionable feedback, we’re managing the project itself. And by modeling healthy collaboration, inclusive leadership and core values throughout the process, we are leading the employees who will actually perform the necessary tasks.

Exec advice: If you’re looking for fast growth then cut the noise, focus, and grow

Better management means better delegation, better feedback and better meetings. Better leadership means better learning, communication, collaboration and culture. 

Our third responsibility is transformation. To keep our organizations relevant and sustainable – and of course, to meet market needs or desires – we must constantly edit how business is conducted and calibrate our internal compasses to be sure we are making a positive impact on the world. Better transformation means better strategy, decision making, innovation, and results. 

The great news is that we can improve our skills in management, leadership and transformation simply by adopting strong daily habits that model the behaviors we want to see, then rewarding employees who emulate those behaviors. 

Unlocking our organization’s full potential for excellence begins by shifting our own leadership habits. The goal is to create a positive workplace culture where people feel empowered and encouraged to contribute their best work consistently. In other words, don’t underestimate the power of your example. Your team is watching, and they’ll follow your lead. 

About the Author

Donald Thompson is an entrepreneur, public speaker, author, podcaster, Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) and executive coach. With two decades of experience growing and leading firms, he is a thought leader on goal achievement, influencing company culture, and driving exponential growth. He is also co-founder and CEO of The Diversity Movement, a results-oriented, data-driven strategic partner for organization-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives recently named to Inc. Magazine’s 2021 Best in Business List in DE&I Advocacy. Donald serves as a board member for several organizations in marketing, healthcare, banking, technology and sports.