CYGNUS Perspectives

Research shows that leaders who consistently demonstrate humility listen better, inspire more effective teamwork and realize greater success than leaders who don't score high on this attribute. Here are some suggestions to strengthen your leadership humility. 

If you’re an experienced leader, the most common temptation is to directly overlay your expertise into a new context. While bringing your ‘A game’ to the table is important, it’s critical to suspend your assumptions about how best to apply that same expertise in new situations. To be truly effective, you need to ask a few key questions before diving right into the opportunity or challenge. 

Senior leaders usually demonstrate a consistent style of leadership during their team's interactions and conversations. While this consistency is both essential and helpful, in specific situations it can be a major hinderance. What's needed is a critical look at the dynamics taking place within the team and for the senior leader to tailer their style to the subject under discussion. 

Ensuring accountability needs to be a key focus of all leaders - particularly those in higher profile roles. Whether staff or board member, the consequences of weak accountability can be significant - from diminished reputation and constraints on career progression to actual job security or board tenure. 

Each of us have unique abilities or competencies that tap into who we are and what we’re particularly good at - our 'secret sauces'. As leader, it’s critical to leverage your unique ‘secret sauce’ to realize real success for yourself, your team and your organization.