Your ability to influence as a leader is directly proportional to how you choose to lead yourself and manage the impact of your behaviour on others. A few bad habits can nullify your influence on the people who desire for you to step up and lead them effectively. Often, people who have succeeded in achieving titled positions of authority get very protective of their habits. They may believe, sometimes falsely, that they have succeeded because of their behaviour habits, when in fact these very habits may now be holding back the performance of their departments and teams.
The bottom line to becoming a leader that influences a strength-based positive culture is the requirement for you to learn to understand yourself. The ancient Greek aphorism, “Know Thyself,” can be attributed to at least six Greek sages, the most notable being the philosopher Socrates. For the more modern generation of folks, you are probably familiar with its Latin version that hung above the Oracle’s door in the Matrix film series… Suffice it to say, virtually every kind of performance problem links to relationship dysfunction that stems from a lack of self-awareness – how our quirky traits and habits that we do not see in ourselves affect the most important people around us.
Leaders that develop their skill of Positive Presence™ and understand the Positive Presence behaviours of Influential Leadership, are aware of their behaviour tendencies and preferences. They know how to manage their emotions, and they are keenly aware of the need to be highly skilled in social management – creating and sustaining highly effective interpersonal relationships. They are empathic, in that they can sense the emotional states of other people, and they are also compassionate in their acknowledgement and response to the emotional messages of others.
You will never lead other people successfully, or influentially, if you do not lead your own self well. Benjamin Franklin wrote, “A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle.” Would you follow you as a leader? Are you the kind of leader others desire to follow? These are questions you should be asking yourself daily!
CORPORATE HARMONY is grateful to Dr. Michael E. Frisina for his contributions to this entry.
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.