What does it mean to be a leader? Though I have been supported and guided by many wonderful leaders in my life and teaching career, I have never really seen myself in a leadership role.
Leaders I have come across look like they were born to the role and displayed qualities such as being good listeners, supportive, responsible, and empathetic. They are often the buffer in front when the storm hits and yet always there to make you feel valued with an encouraging word.
Leadership and trust
This video Building Trust and Collaboration (Ezard, 2015) demonstrates that leadership requires trust. The biological response of the body to trust is to release oxytocin and dopamine, chemicals that promotes the brain area that problem solve and learn. Thus, trust from your colleagues is a very important quality for a leader to create transformation. She goes onto suggest the following actions to build trust:
1. Discover who you are working with and get to know the essence of each person. Who are their families, what do they like to do? What makes them who they are.
2. Admit to mistake and take ownership. Model taking risks and accept that failures are part of the process.
3. Make the time to appreciate the effort and comment on their achievements. This should be with people who are in your team as well those who are not.
4. Evolve with the role, take the responsibility and be accountable.
5. Align with yourself and be authentic. What you say and do should align with what you feel and believe.
How can I apply this in my role?
Being trustworthy is a quality I have always seen in good leaders. The five points mentioned above, are qualities I would like myself to always emulate not as a leader but as a decent human being. Perhaps good leadership follows that. This is the beginning towards learning to lead. A good starting point for the journey ahead.
References
Ezard, T. [BastowInstitute]. (2015, July 27). Building trust and collaboration – Tracey Ezard [Video]. https://youtu.be/kUkseAdKyek.