Leadership is About People, Not Technical Competence
The most common myth about leadership is that it’s mostly about demonstrating your technical competence and job expertise. But the truth is, leadership is much more about people than skills. Technical expertise alone does not make an effective leader.
To be successful you need more than technical competence. You need to grow as a person.
- Speaking the truth is essential — express it and receive it with respect
- Impeccable commitments are essential for cooperative relationships — require a strong foundation of personal values
- Tap your imagination to create options when at an impasse
Some of the traits that drove your success as individuals can derail you success as a leader
What employees need most are leaders who make them feel valued, respected, supported, acknowledged, and challenged. After basic survival needs, humans have a strong drive for love and belonging. As author John Maxwell says, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Conscious leaders understand this deep human need. They strive to provide the emotional and mental well-being people need to thrive by making them feel accepted into the group. Employees want to feel they are contributing to something meaningful, so leaders must communicate a compelling vision and purpose.
When difficult issues arise, conscious leaders share information honestly and respectfully. They focus on improving relationships and performance rather than covering up hard truths. Leaders must be able to coordinate impeccably by making commitments they can deliver on. According to leadership expert Suzanne Bates, “Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching.”
When people fail to keep their word, performance and trust declines. But when a team shares values and people can count on each other, the team excels. In the words of John C. Maxwell, “One is too small a number to achieve greatness.” Leadership is ultimately about bringing people together to accomplish more than anyone could alone.
