A Leader to Follow

In my last column about personal growth and how it fits into our workplaces today, I promised to look at whether the leadership of today is in sync with a more intuitive, spiritual way of being.

Dr. Sandy Cotton frequently talks about a place of respect, trust, compassion, kindness, truth and love for each other—a place from which we can truly develop healthy organizations. So where does leadership fit into all of this?

Let me start with a story. I visited a very large organization specializing in workplace health and safety. They had recently relocated within this newly built complex, which they shared with like-minded organizations. I was surprised with the food selection in their cafeteria–especially that made with deep-fryers and hot dog machines. The vending machines were loaded with pop and junk food, and not one drinking water fountain was in sight. When I asked questions, the responses did not surprise me. “For the cafeteria to be financially viable we have to offer these foods.” “It’s what people expect. Why change?”. “We would have a riot on our hands if we didn’t offer French fries.” If I were to hazard a guess, I would suggest that the organizations in this complex jointly represent over two million employees in Ontario.

If your organization is working to improve the health and safety performance of your key stakeholders, then make no exceptions. How can you expect your employees to willingly follow you when they sense inconsistencies?

Decision-makers within organizations need to be mindful that employees are becoming more intuitive and will no longer be satisfied with the “do what I say” management approach. They want to understand why and they want the response to be satisfactory to them. They want to believe. They are looking for what I am calling a “knowing” leader.

A “knowing” leader is totally in alignment with his/her thoughts, which, when pondered long enough, become beliefs, which when believed enough become talk, which then become a state of knowing. With some individuals occupying leadership/management positions, there can be a disconnect with what they believe and what they are doing. And it is being noticed.

A by-product of all the personal development that employees have engaged in today is a heightened level of intuition. They know when a manager or senior executive does not believe what he or she is spouting. Employees sense an inconsistency, a lack of alignment. While some people in these positions of power may believe that they can “pull the wool over the eyes of their subordinates,” it is just not true anymore.

The leaders of tomorrow need to do more than just “walk and talk” the organizational message. These leaders need to believe and know from their core that what they are doing is in alignment with their personal beliefs, from their souls, within the mission of the organization.

The knowing leader will be authentic, will be transparent and will know where the alignment exists–and everyone else will know this too.

The knowing leader will truly be a leader to follow.