Being a leader is a lot like being a gardener—you are responsible for creating the conditions in which your team can truly thrive. Any skilled gardener knows that planting a seed isn’t enough; growth requires rich soil, the removal of weeds, and careful guidance toward the light.
In the same way, great leaders nurture their teams, eliminate obstacles, and foster an environment where people can grow and succeed.
The Learnable Art of Leadership
Let’s face it—not everyone is born with green fingers. I inherited my grandmother’s beloved houseplants, and within weeks, they had withered. Similarly, no one is born knowing how to lead people effectively. But here’s the good news—just like gardening, leadership skills can be learned!
Leadership is both a science and an art, requiring the right strategies and mindset to cultivate high performance.
Later this month, we’ll explore the structural and systemic components needed to ensure that people are able to perform at their best . But today, let’s take a closer look at the core skills leaders need in order to influence culture and create environments where individuals can thrive and performance can soar.
So how do leaders build a really healthy culture around them?
They tailor their communication - They understand everyone is different and so they communicate and relate to people uniquely - they have high 'relational intelligence'. We work with a tool called the Five Voices which helps leaders to develop the communication skills they need to engage with different members of their team effectively.
They create psychological safety - They create an empowered environment around them using high support and high challenge and they provide this in differentiated ways to different people - depending on their wiring.
They are a coach, not a boss - They focus on developing people in every interaction - their goal is always to enable growth and performance in every conversation. They first see themselves as a coach, before they see themselves as a boss. They take people through a development journey.
They know what it's like to be on the other side of themselves - They are radically self aware - they value and invest in self intelligence and self management. They know themselves and make choices to lead themselves well.
Elevate Your Leadership with Tillon
At Tillon, our Leadership Development Programmes equip you with the core skills needed to lead high-performing teams. If your organisation is ready to develop stronger leaders, we’d love to help.
Later this month we’ll be diving into the structural components of effective performance management—so stay tuned! Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed and take your leadership to the next level.
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