Author: Doug Shaw

Artist and Consultant. Embracing uncertainty, sketching myself into existence. Helping people do things differently, through an artistic lens.

Leadership. Are You Really There?

Peacock Butterfly - Inachis io
Peacock Butterfly – Inachis io

I’ve been enjoying some fine weather and sitting in the garden. Usually when I’m in the garden I’m distracted by something. Maybe I’m writing, playing, cooking, or even occasionally, gardening. But this weekend, I’ve spent some time sitting there. Really being there. As a result I began to notice things, see thing a little differently. I made three new friends.

Inachis io, aka Peacock
Celastrina argiolus, aka Holly Blue
Anthocharis cardamines, aka Orange Tip

Two of these butterflies, the Holly Blue and Orange Tip are tiny. I wouldn’t normally spot them, let alone take the time to identify and photograph them. I’m glad I did. My heightened awareness over just a brief period has increased my enjoyment of the garden and what it has to offer. I’m glad I spent time, just being there.

Too often I see people in meetings, in conversation, or listening. But they’re not really there. Their mind is on where they are going next, what they are going to say next. They are not in the moment. And it shows. You know when you’ve spent time with someone who is only there in body, and it’s not very engaging. It’s not good leadership. Two of the useful leadership qualities observed by Jonathan Wilson are:

Leaders learn to listen extraordinarily well with genuine interest and respect.
Leaders engender a sustained sense of enthusiasm and make people feel they are very important.

You can only practice these qualities, by being there. Your presence isn’t enough. Be there. Be aware.

Holly Blue - Celastrina argiolus
Holly Blue – Celastrina argiolus
Orange Tip - Anthocharis cardamines
Orange Tip – Anthocharis cardamines

Facebook Faceoff

I’ve just been reading a piece on HRZone about people making unpleasant remarks about the boss on Facebook and other social networking sites. The article starts:

“Just over one in ten under 35 year-olds have posted derogatory or negative comments about their boss or employer on a social networking site, according to a study.”

This got me thinking. Why are a growing number of people resorting to this rather spiky method of communication?

In my experience very few companies allow or are comfortable with internal two way communications. They tend to prefer broadcast, one way methods in an attempt to keep control of the message. Open dialogue, or one way command and control. Which do you find more engaging, more purposeful?

I know of a few places where blogging in the business is encouraged, and in fewer places still, there are some reasonably senior figures actively involved and pretty much anything goes. So what happens? I see some controversy raging from time to time, and a lot of people appreciate a more open, two way, live feel about the comms. Debate happens, and quite often when a member of staff posts something a bit edgy, it will be other colleagues and peers who may speak up and challenge the point of view. More often than not there is a consensus reached, some useful learning has been…learned, and in the best examples I’ve seen action is taken. Improvement action. On the odd occasion discussion strays into something inappropriate, well just deal with it. Remove the offense, explain briefly why and get on with the next good idea, or discussion.

This open dialogue is an important part of visible or accessible leadership. Here’s a supporting idea for you if you are interested. “Visible Leadership is Great. Can we have some please?” http://bit.ly/azUreQ

Maybe, just maybe, more companies should be open to real dialogue within the business, and the real opportunities it brings. Perhaps that way more people will want to engage with improving the business and fewer people would feel the need to flame the boss on facebook or wherever. What do you think?