Connection – Be Part of the Solution (Not the Problem)

I recently had a conversation with a friend about a conversation he had with the pilot of the plane before boarding for a trip. The pilot was clearly not happy and he indicated that senior management was so detached and in his words, “so uncaring for the needs of their industry”, that after 14 years as a commercial airline pilot he was going to abandon his childhood dream of being a pilot and pursue another career field. In the pilot’s words “corporate burdened us to such a degree, I no longer care to fly.” These are not words that my friend wanted to hear from the individual about to fly the airplane he was traveling as a passenger in.

Interestingly enough, while this may seem shocking, time and again similar words are said before surgeons enter operating rooms, nurses enter a patient’s room and yes, even pilots boarding airplanes.
Enlightened leaders are aware of the perils of organizational hierarchy, not just among management but also among front line workforce. This is why enlightened leaders work hard to contain their egos, which is the primary source of the inflated sense of self and arrogance.

Specifically, enlightened leaders do the following:
• Respect other people’s dignity
• Give credit where it is due, and refuse to take credit for anything
• Acknowledge the contribution and hard work of other people
• Refuse to belittle others’ job title, experience, training and education, economic status or personal accomplishments and traits
• Use the word ‘we’ instead of ‘I’
• Encourage people to give their ideas and opinions, and honor their right to disagree
• Admit their shortcomings, and ask for honest feedback
• Prevent and discourage any form of bullying in the workplace
• Actively seek a personal commonality and professional common ground with other people
• Put the needs of the self behind the needs of others

These practices enable the leader to “get over themselves” and make powerful connections. These practices are consistent with the Positive Presence Behaviour Capacities that ensure the leader stays focused on creating a positive and energized connection with followers. Enlightened leaders do not look down on their workforce. Instead, they leverage the skills, talents and potential of their people. In a word, enlightened leaders put their people first in order to connect and be part of the solution (not the problem).

CORPORATE HARMONY is grateful to Dr. Michael E. Frisina for his contributions to this entry.