Yesterday, I went to a hair salon, and the stylist asked me what I am doing. I answered that I do leadership coaching. She asked me to tell her the essential element of leadership. I didn’t expect the question yet, shared what came to my mind at the moment.
“Leadership begins by changing the focus from You to People. Often, we think Leadership is that people need to follow what I say. If you want to lead someone, the first step is to watch the person, identify what they need/want and Give It. Then, people will begin to follow you.
Then she asked another question, “If so, should I give first or give only when people ask?”
Without knowing the right answer, again, I shared the story in my mind at that moment. “I know someone who recently left her company after five months. She shared a story in her previous company, where she worked for ten years. One month after she joined the company, her supervisor asked to take a break. Then he asked her, “How are you? I know how hard you are trying to do your best”. “Tell me any time when you need help.”
The simple conversation made her feel relieved because there was someone who understood her and cared about her.
What does your leadership look like? Who’s your focus? You or your People?