Understanding Your Leadership Presence: What is Your Energy Really Communicating?
In my past career, I was the leader of hundreds of amazing humans. They taught me everything I needed to know about true leadership.
They taught me about who I am, and how my energy as the leader controls the temperature of the organization, whether it’s good or bad.
They taught me that it’s my job as a leader to be clear and direct, and make sure my actions always align with my words, and this that this clarity creates a safe space for everyone, or on the flip side, a dangerous, chaotic place if words and actions do not align.
They taught me that everyone wants the same thing; to be seen, heard, respected for who they truly are, and acknowledged for their efforts.
In my past career, I was a third-grade teacher.
Teachers are the ultimate leaders because kids will force you to be your best.
Now when I coach leaders, I can see that they have the exact same challenges that teachers have, but it may not seem as obvious.
As a teacher, poor leadership may look like an out-of-control classroom, full of disruptions and misbehavior that leads to chaos and stressed out students.
But with adults, it can look like:
Low morale/motivation
Lack of engagement
Quiet quitting
Low employee retention
Poor customer service and satisfaction
Absenteeism
The work of a leader of an organization and the work of a third-grade teacher is the same: to lead humans and empower them to be their best.
As the captain of the ship, it’s your job to make sure everyone is safe and to give them all the resources they need to do their best work.
Your energetic presence is the thermostat for the health of your organization. Here are 7 ways your energy sets the tone in your organization.
7 Ways Your Leadership Energy is Communicating
1. Your clarity (or lack of clarity) about expectations controls the safety of the environment.
Clarity is safety. Humans have a need to know what is expected of them in work situations. Grey areas can be very stressful because nobody wants to get in trouble by accidentally breaking a rule they didn’t know about.
Clearly explain the expectations and set clear agreements based on them. Also, make sure any consequences are fairly enforced.
2. Your thoughts and feelings about yourself and others will be mirrored back to you.
Our brains have mirror neurons that communicate between humans. What you think and feel sets the tone.
This means, when you feel like an imposter, this will be felt by those you lead. You may try to hide the feelings of imposter syndrome by being extra stern or overly friendly. But it does not change the fact that others will pick up on what you are thinking and feeling.
When you feel stressed, others will feel your stress.
But the opposite is true and can become your superpower. When you feel calm and centered, others will feel calm and centered as well.
3. Everyone wants to be seen, heard, respected and acknowledged.
We all want to feel safe to be who we truly are. We want to bring our whole selves to work and this is universal.
As a leader, this means you will need to have empathy, and learn how to listen fully to those you lead and acknowledge them as well as offer them the guidance they need when they need to learn something differently.
This takes extra effort when communicating, because if someone feels unseen and unheard, they will shut down or leave. It’s human nature.
4. Assume everyone wants to do their best, and they may need your help to do so.
When someone isn’t doing what is expected and agreed upon, this is an indication that they may need some extra support. Instead of assuming the worst, get curious and show care and consideration. Ask questions in a way that makes it safe to tell the truth.
When you tell the truth, others will feel safe to tell the truth as well.
5. The way you communicate sets the tone.
If your communication style seems scary or inconsistent, no one will feel safe. If you do not align your actions with your words, your team will sense that something is off.
Trust is everything, and it’s hard to gain it back once it’s lost.
If you do mess up, apologize genuinely and make efforts to stay in your integrity.
And when you need to have hard conversations, make it safe to do so.
6. When you don’t manage your stress, your team will be stressed.
And when your team is stressed, they will not stay long. Or if they have to stay, it will be chaotic and miserable.
It is essential that you as a leader manage your stress. This means that you must take care of yourself, your body, mind and spirit.
Taking care of yourself cannot be put last because you are stressed. Take care of yourself first, and then you will be a better leader.
7. When you create a space of respect, truth and clear systems, everyone will feel empowered to do their best.
This is how you lift up an organization and create magic.