As we move through the knowledge era toward the Age of Connection (aka The Network Society) due to the internet, the necessity for emotionally aware leadership is absolutely critical for organizational success. Research and experts have identified at least four additional traits to the hallmark traits of authenticity, humility, honesty, and courage. These additional traits are necessary in leaders at all levels.
Mental Presence
Being mentally present reflects a conscious decision to pay full attention (physically, mentally, and emotionally) to everything that is occurring around you. Mental presence enables you to focus, observe, learn, listen, form an opinion, and develop insight. Equally important, it prevents you from saying or doing anything that could trigger a negative emotional reaction in others.
Emotional Control
Having emotional control does not mean repressing feelings. It means making a conscious effort to stay focused, composed, and even tempered. No one benefits from a leader whose first reaction to a bad situation is to scream at everyone around them, or who openly vents their frustrations in public when overwhelmed. Conversely, no one benefits from a leader who is so emotionally closed up that they cannot show compassion, affection, or joy when necessary or appropriate.
- Inspiration
Being inspirational is second nature to self-aware leaders. They inspire others with their words, passion, self-confidence and self-control. Self-awareness of your volition, mental models, and emotions is the strongest foundation you have for inspiring others. When you are self-aware, you are sympathetic to the plight of others and more likely to want to make a difference in others’ lives.
- Responsiveness to Concerns and Needs
People make an emotional connection to their leader before they connect with their work. ‘Influential leaders’ — leaders with or without a formal title or role — possess the mind and behaviour habits that create positive and energized emotions within themselves and around them. They are highly practiced with the skill of ‘Positive Presence’ and it places them in a position to model emotionally balanced behaviour. More important, it enables them to be responsive to others’ needs, which is a primary contributor to employee engagement.
Catherine is the President and CEO of CORPORATE HARMONY, providing virtual solutions for leadership development and organizational culture change. Her leadership and coaching experience as a Project Manager in an ever-changing, fast moving technological organization with unrelenting demands drove her to the realization that a positive mindset and strength-building behaviors are essential for today’s complex and chaotic organizational systems. CORPORATE HARMONY’s virtual platform of programs, coaching and performance measurement, is an innovative online technology of tested proprietary content. The world-class content of CORPORATE HARMONY’s Positive Presence Program develops the skill of ‘Positive Presence’ and the necessary ‘Positive Presence Behaviour Competencies’ for maintaining a positive and energized mindset and increased performance in today’s complex work environment, and leading to a culture of collaboration and connection. Catherine’s vision for Corporate Harmony is to bring the skill of “Positive Presence” to the corporate world as it becomes more complex, ambiguous and chaotic. Catherine is uniquely positioned to impact organizations’ productivity and long term success, with her powerful vision of eliminating bad stress from every workplace around the globe, bringing purpose into the people equation to promote healthy, productive and meaningful work cultures and turn the tide on the neglect of mental health on a global scale. Catherine is author of the book: “CORPORATE HARMONY – The Performance Link for Today’s Modern Organization” Catherine can be reached at: Catherine.Osborne@corporateharmony.ca or go to ‘contact us’ on our website www.corporateharmony.ca. Catherine is available for consultation, and can be reached by 519-695-3407.