Over my 20 years as a business leader I’ve learned that good leadership accelerates engagement and passion. But what does that mean? It means effective leadership brings out the best in people, fostering engagement and creating a critical mass. When more individuals become passionate about the vision and enthusiastic about their work, they inspire others, generating positive momentum. Why is this important? Global research finds that teams with high employee engagement achieve 23% higher profitability than those in the bottom, driving sustainable growth.
So, how do we create engagement? It starts with You as a leader! I utilize “The Line,” introduced to me 15 years ago in “The Leadership Diamond” by Peter Koestenbaum.
Here’s the concept
Above the line
You have a growth mindset and are open to change, you take personal responsibility and seek to maximize the possibilities in any given situation. You respond to feedback with, “Great feedback; I’ll do differently next time,” and strive to understand others’ perspectives: “So you mean that…”
Below the line
You have a defensive attitude and a fixed mindset, being right is important and you see yourself as a victim of circumstances, feeling that the “whole world” is on your shoulder, making excuses “I did so because…” or denying mistakes “I didn’t do it that way”.
We all go below the line when we run in to change or are threatened. It's normal. It's how we as a leader respond in attitude and actions that really makes the difference in our leadership.
The essence of “The Line” is that you as a leader can’t lead yourself or others from a Below the line position.
Where you position yourself on this line influences your team’s behavior. If you model responsibility and a willingness to change, your colleagues will likely follow. Conversely, if you’re below the line, it leads to disengagement.
This is part of our philosophy Business Wellness - “Leadership for full potential”. Our way to help you achieve long-term growth with your people at the forefront. Read more about Business Wellness here: businesswellness.com.
What are your best tips for becoming a leader above the line?
