5 Power Tools of Great Leaders

Like any skilled operator leaders need great tools.
Unlike a builder or mechanic the power tools of leadership can’t be bought in a hardware store. However they can be built internally and you can develop your skill by continually applying them. Regardless of your sector, level or expertise, access these internal power tools to be a great leader.

1. Presence. 
   Bringing yourself fully to every conversation and meeting will make a huge difference to your power as a leader. Giving yourself a few minutes to focus on the meeting BEFORE the meeting means you will be more likely to BE in the meeting. Turn off phones and notifications and allow yourself to fully attend to the topic and the people. How you show up will affect how others show up. You will raise everyone’s game, particularly if you practice your presence consistently.

2. Active listening. 
   There is listening and there is active listening . When you actively listen you listen with all your senses  - not just your ears. Active listening means observing not only the confidence or lack of it in the speaker but also the energy and dynamics of the group. It means you notice when a speakers voice drops or raises or when members of the group are engaged in silent disagreement. Active listening allows you to hear what is NOT said as well as what is said.  When you are actively listening your ears, eyes, brain and intuition are all engaged. 

3. Provocative questions. 
   When you bring your full presence and practice active listening you lay the ground for your ability to ask great questions. I call these provocative questions. Provocative questions slow the discussion down and allows everyone to double check their assumptions; questions their knowingness. It allows for the perspective of those who may not be in the room or who may not have been considered but are crucial to a quality decision. Provocative questions are meant to destabilise - not for the sake of it but as an additional level of quality thinking – a barrier to fast poor decision making. As a leader practising provocative questions consistently you will ensure that your team do their best individual thinking before they get into the room and TEAM have the best quality discussion while in the room.

4. Empathy. 
   The dictionary definition of empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Organisational psychologists Daniel Goleman (author of best selling book Emotional Intelligence) and Paul Ekman claim there are 3 types of empathy - one of which is cognitive empathy. When we practice cognitive empathy we can hold multi perspectives. We don’t have to agree with the perspectives, we just have to have the ability to surface them, recognise them and give them a place in the discussion. All great leaders ensure that multiple and often competing perspectives are considered not only for quality decision making but to demonstrate inclusive leadership, resolve conflict and have powerful negotiations.

5. Compassion.
   Means, to literally suffer together. It is defined as the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another’s suffering and feel  motivated to relieve that suffering. Practicing compassion is practicing action. Many successful global businesses and organisations started with a flame of compassion for a disadvantaged group, recognising a perceived need that would make a difference to consumer’s lives. Individual’s acting on a single compassionate thought have made a difference to millions of lives. Today many companies put compassion at the heart of their brand message by supporting causes that matter to their employees or customers and by doing so they link their company values with causes that have strong resonance with the public.

Leaders can chip and chip away trying to build a successful team and achieve their goals - or they can leverage these 5 power tools. If you are feeling stuck or unable to build the momentum you need, you need to ask yourself if you have these 5 power tools in your kit.

And if you don’t know how to add them, you need coaching with Annette Burns Young.