The 10 Most Overlooked Definitions In Leadership

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

What do they mean to you?

Leadership means telling the world why a company exists- its purpose- and describing a vision for how that purpose will be achieved.’

An organization’s culture is so much more than a slogan or poster. Culture is nothing less than the aggregate of tens of thousands of interactions and decisions every day. … Creating a culture means choosing a limited number of values that define the company as surely as its products or logo do, and then encouraging expression of those values in everyday behavior.’

Authenticity means people are living the same company culture that the CEO describes and that the HR department claims in job descriptions.’

Appreciation means recognizing work well done. It’s a subjective expression in the same way one ‘appreciates’ a work of art or a clever solution to a work problem.’

Engagement at work is the willingness to give discretionary effort to a job. It means voluntarily doing more than the minimum. It is an attitude confirmed by behavior.’

Empowerment transfers the power to achieve results from the manager to the employee.’

To manage is to choose among multiple options, and business situations inevitably cause a manager to choose in the moment between, for example, customer satisfaction and greater efficiency.’

Gamification means adding elements of game design or game mechanics to nongame contexts. In the workplace, it could include elements like awarding points for hitting milestones and competing for prizes.’

Commitment without alignment means wasted effort (and frustration). Alignment without commitment means wasted potential (and employee turnover). Recognition singles out great performance (commitment) that focuses on strategic goals (alignment).’

Measurement means relevance. Without it, any project tends to justify itself.’

Source:

Eric Mosley and Derek Irvine (2014). The Power of Thanks: How Social Recognition Empowers Employees and Creates a Best Place to Work

What Employees Want

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

‘Employees want their work to be about more than a paycheck. Companies that articulate a clear purpose ensure that employees find meaning in what they do.’

Community is more important to employees than ever. Fostering a sense of belonging can motivate team members to elevate their performance and dedication to the company’s mission.’

Growth is the pursuit of improvement and progress that’s core to the human experience.’ Purpose is knowing that what you’re working on matters- that you’re making that dent in the universe and that the work you do is felt and improves the lives of other people. And community is that sense of belonging and that fundamental need to be part of a group working toward the same purpose and progress. … Culture is the vehicle we use to deliver these pillars of a successful, meaningful business.’

Values are an aspirational code that companies build their culture around. Values have the power to shape the employee experience and your employer brand.’

Performance feedback should not come as a surprise – it should be consistent, continuous, and free-flowing.’

‘There will always be room for improvement- developing a clear, measurable plan of action, and communicating that to employees is essential to troubleshooting.’

Growth plans enable employees to progress personally in their career, both within and outside of their particular responsibilities for the company.’

Growth for employees can ensure growth for your business. If your people feel like you’re investing in them, they’ll invest double in your success.’

Goals make an excellent foundation for setting expectations, giving feedback, and measuring performance.’

A healthy feedback culture involves routine communication, employee-driven one-on-one meetings, and performance reviews.’

Source:

Jack Altman (2021) People Strategy: How to Invest in People and Make Culture Your Competitive Advantage