Leading with love
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky exhibited empowering leadership this week in his letter to employees as he and his team prepare to lay off 25% of their employees. Chesky's words and actions emulate an empowering leadership, or coaching leadership, that we study and discuss in DePaul University's Value-Centered Leadership Certificate offered through the School of Public Service that includes over 250 leaders from15 countries this term.
This week's class discussion yielded these themes and opportunities when it comes to leadership that empowers others in the best, and worst of times:
Listen. Practice often, anywhere, any time. How might you listen more actively anytime anywhere? With whom?
Ask Instead of Tell. Do you listen at the surface, or to inform your interests and agenda? Or are you listening for the opening -- what's beneath the words -- to encourage Are there spaces and places where questions, rather than answers, might be warranted? Where not knowing is the "right answer."
Be Present. Are there times when you find that you are moving from one meeting to the next, one task to the other, without taking time to eliminate distractions and to fully show up for your team? What might you do differently?
Act with Intention. When might you slow down to better plan or prepare? How might you amend an agenda or enhance a conversation by crafting forms of engagement that open up the space for meaningful and productive conversations? New learning? Empathy and understanding?
Trust is Essential to Building Relationships. Does your organizational culture help or hinder trusting relationships? What is your role in maintaining or shifting the status quo?
Have Courageous Conversations. What risks are you willing to take to stretch yourself and to invite others into a dialogue that includes helpful and honest feedback, support and/or direction? To demonstrate care and concern?
Mary McGuinness, M.Ed., PCC teaches Values-Centered Leadership and Nonprofit Management and Leadership in DePaul University's School of Public Service. She is president of MMCG, Inc. an executive coaching and learning strategy firm based in Chicago, IL USA.