Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Servant leadership
By Joseph Soares
Managing Partner, IBPROM Corp.
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The clarion call for authentic leadership has echoed across boardrooms, community gatherings, and policy discussions. As outlined in a previous exploration of leadership, emphasizing the power of truth and authenticity seems vital. But what happens when, even after embracing authenticity, leadership still falters? What's the next frontier?
Embracing the Role of a Servant Leader
Authenticity, though integral, is just one facet of leadership. Robert Greenleaf, the founding father of the servant leadership movement, believed that leadership was not about being in charge but about taking care of those in your charge. His work emphasized the need for leaders to serve first, ensuring that others' highest priority needs are met.
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Starbucks, under the guidance of Howard Schultz, embodies this. Schultz often highlighted that his primary role was serving his employees, often called "partners." This perspective contributed to their benefits program offering health insurance, stock options, and college tuition for both full- and part-time employees.
Cultivating Emotional Intelligence
According to Daniel Goleman, an expert on emotional intelligence, leaders often fail not because of technical incompetence but due to a lack of soft skills. Empathy, self-awareness, and interpersonal effectiveness have emerged as paramount in leadership. Google's internal "Project Aristotle" study discovered that psychological safety, ensured by empathetic and emotionally intelligent leaders, was a key component of their most successful teams. They weren't just hiring for tech know-how but focusing on how individuals interacted and fostered a nurturing environment.
Continuous Learning and Unlearning
Our rapidly evolving world mandates continuous learning, but perhaps more crucially, the art of unlearning. Airbnb's co-founder, Brian Chesky, spoke about how, during their early years, they had to unlearn traditional hospitality practices to reimagine and redefine their brand. This involved constant iterations based on feedback, demonstrating that adaptive leaders willing to unlearn old paradigms and embrace new ones are pivotal in today's world.
Holding Leadership Accountable
While authenticity and adaptive qualities are vital, leaders must also be held accountable for failures and missteps. This is not about seeking scapegoats but ensuring that transparency, responsibility, and integrity are upheld. The Wells Fargo scandal in 2016 showcased the perils of not holding leadership accountable. An environment where unethical sales practices were overlooked led to the eventual crumbling of trust for one of America's most longstanding banks.
A Holistic Vision
In the grand tapestry of leadership, one cannot rely solely on a single thread of authenticity. As we delve deeper into the intricacies of modern leadership challenges, it becomes evident that a holistic approach is paramount. This involves a harmonious blend of emotional intelligence, accountability, continuous learning, and the heart of a servant leader.
We live in times where global challenges, be it pandemics, climate change, or geopolitical shifts, demand a comprehensive response. Leadership today isn't just about steering the ship but understanding the waters, respecting the crew, and navigating with wisdom.
Yes, authenticity remains a critical pillar. But modern leadership demands a composite of values, skills, and adaptability. As organizations and communities step into a future marked by unpredictability, cultivating leaders who are servants at heart, emotionally intelligent, adaptive learners, and held accountable will be critical.
It's a tall order, but as the challenges mount, so must our commitment to transcending traditional leadership paradigms. Beyond authenticity lies a realm of leadership that's resilient, responsive, and, most importantly, representative of the collective ethos of our evolving world.
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