Here are 5 biases we should avoid as leaders/decision-makers:
(Inspiration Source)
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There is this story on Sun Zi and his command of women assigned to him by the King of Wu.
This gist is that Sun Zi explained the instructions and ascertained that it was clear, but when he gave the instructions they just giggled. So he explained that if instructions were clear and distinct, then it could not be the fault of the commander, but of the officers below. So he had the 2 officers, who happened to be the King of Wu's favourite concubines, executed. The King of Wu begged for their lives, but Sun Zi pointed out that he was given the power by the King of Wu to regulate these matters. After which the women were perfectly drilled, but the King of Wu was no longer interested in inspecting them. I heard this story a long time ago when I was 11 or 12. For me it was one of the guides in the formation of my leadership style. From it I learnt that I had to give clear instructions that were easy to understand. If it goes wrong, I should reflect on those instructions and see if I can make them clearer and easier to understand, or I should explain them again. I should also solicit questions and ask those who follow me what their understanding of my instructions were. Once they indicate they understand the second time round, another mistake would not be mine. Then we should look at what else is happening. If there are "environmental" factors then we should see how we can overcome such obstacles. However, if the error is human, then it's time to work with the person who received the instructions. I don't execute people. Another lesson I learnt is that I should carry out my duties as assigned and not pander to the powers that be (i.e. play politics). That way my leadership would not be questioned and my followers would not suspect that I only seek advancement or power for myself. From the King of Wu, I learnt that I should not interfere with those carrying out my instructions. It's a matter of trust. If I trust them, I have to let them do their jobs. I also learnt to support a project/person and not just talk about supporting. This one simple story has guided my leadership style for a long time, and continues to guide me. A former Navy SEAL explains how we can help our organisation be better:
Just to share this article from Business Insider on where to go for online courses on:
All important skills for life and the workplace. The signs that someone is a bad leader:
I read this article and reflected on what qualities I will need to work on in 2018:
I looked at the list, and found some of the skills that were listed lacking in my own leadership toolkit.
Empathy is one of the most, if not the most, important leadership skill to possess (the others being inspiring trust, self-discipline, critical thinking, and self-awareness) .
This is an area that I am weak at. I once did a test that showed that I rated high on all scales except empathy. While I am able to recognise my own feelings and manage my own feels, as well as recognise other people's feelings, my ability to empathise is low. This plays out with my kids. My first reaction to bad behaviour from my kids generally lacks empathy. The follow up after the initial action tries to make up for the low empathy initial reaction. I tend to suffer fools poorly, and I process information quickly. This leads to a lack of empathy. I also realise with my colleagues I tend to display more empathy (what little of it) and with my loved ones my empathy is super low, especially with my boys. This is made worse when I'm really tired or hungry. While I try to correct this behaviour, I hope that my follow up action of reasoning with my boys helps soothe the initial sting. My worry is that they will also pick up on my poor empathy and also develop low empathy skills, which will take a lifetime to correct. Disney is many things to many people, but Disney does get leadership right by most accounts. It's not perfect, but here is what we can learn from Disney.
Being present is so important. With your colleagues, clients, family. It's such a big part of just showing that you care.
Practice active listening. Ask questions to clarify any doubts. Rephrase statements back to the other person so they can clarify and also know that you are listening. Give people the gift of your presence. That is all you need to do to make a connection with another human being. |
AuthorLate 30s. Dad. Thinking about life, family, work, and retirement. Sharing those thoughts with others Categories
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