How Great Leaders Energize People

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As a leader, your people are watching you. Don’t assume you know how they see you. You don’t. If you want to know, you have got to know them. You have got to meet them where they are.

In her book The Inspiration Code: How the Best Leaders Energize People Every Day, Kristi Hedges writes, ‘When you show how seriously you’re taking a conversation, it raises the importance for everyone else as well.’

Embracing uncertainty and saying ‘I don’t know’ invites outside thinking. It also shows courage.’

‘To truly connect with someone else, we need to send out a beaming and accurate light that allows them to see our intentions and motivations clearly.’

Your leadership story tells people what you’re all about.’

Communicating potential helps people access their strengths.’

‘When we highlight potential, we boost confidence.

‘If you know how to shift your listening, you can go into deep and inspirational listening mode whenever you choose to.’

‘We need to shift to curiosity when we want to learn, rather than just confirm what we already think.’

‘When we exude positive energy, people borrow from it, internalize it, and make it their own.’

The energy we convey sets the benchmark for what other people will be able to feel.’

‘When you connect to the emotional core of your message, you exhibit a mobilizing force.’

Source:

Kristi Hedges (2017). The Inspiration Code: How the Best Leaders Energize People Every Day

What Does It Mean To Be Present?

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Life is about connecting with other people. When you are around people who are good at connecting with other people, you don’t want them to go.

As a leader, if you want to connect with your people, you must be there. You must be present. Be there. Because your people are watching you.

Your ‘actions underline or undermine our executive presence.’

‘Your actions are like a red blinking lights that signals to others ‘This is important to me.”

‘Humans trust actions over all other forms of communications.’

‘Presence is the way we move through the world.’

Authentic presence is a delicate balancing act of understanding other people’s perspectives, communicating so that they can best hear you, and staying true to yourself.’

Connection increases when you balance competency with vulnerability.’

‘Stories affect the way we understand, remember, and even listen.’

The more trust others have for you, the larger their investment in you.’

It takes effort to listen well, but it feels amazing on the receiving end.’

Reflection time involves letting thoughts come to us, which helps overcome functional fixedness.’

Source:

Kristi Hedges (2012). The Power of Presence: Unlock Your Potential to Influence and Engage Others