No leader can make it on their own. We may sometimes think it is best to drive our dreams in a solo airplane, but that will get us just so far. When we hit brick walls and can’t seem to push ourselves forward, we often need to turn to the people we work or collaborate with to give us a little kick or help. So if each of us needs assistance and encouragement at different points, why are we sometimes reluctant to offer it to others? What are we afraid of or why aren’t we extending a helping hand?
Leaders can feel threatened by helping someone else get to the next level. That may sound crazy but I have heard this over and over again in so many of my leadership workshops. People may not express it so definitively, but that is exactly what concerns them. What if the person we help moves up the ladder faster or makes more progress than we do?
Let’s flip that mindset for this one: How can we help both others as well as ourselves cultivate more impactful leadership?
The answer lies in becoming a leadership connector. When we put aside our fears (which are probably limiting us) and we open up our minds to grow and develop others, we can see the value of connections. Through connections leaders learn new skills and knowledge as well as build a valuable network.
[Tweet “When leaders become connectors they empower others to grow.”]
Four ways to become a leadership connector:
1. ACKNOWLEDGE THE VALUE IN HELPING OTHERS CONNECT
To become a leadership connector, look at how people throughout your career have helped you grow through connecting you with others. Did a boss pair you with someone on your team that had different skills from yours? Did you get introduced to a person from a different department that enabled you to make a career move? When we see how important connections played in our leadership journey, we want to do the same for others.
2. DEVELOP AN APPROACHABLE LEADERSHIP STYLE
Are you a leader that your team members see as approachable? Here are a few ways to grow your approachability factor:
- When colleagues ask you for help, make them feel comfortable by spending time with them
- Listen with deep understanding to what is being shared
- Smile and become a fan
- Add open-mindedness to your leadership qualities
[Tweet “Leadership connectors are approachable leaders.”]
3. ADD MENTORING TO YOUR LIST OF ESSENTIAL SKILLS
Many of us have had and still have magical mentors who helped pave the way for us in our careers. What made them so important to our success? They were able to create a mentoring partnership that not only held us accountable but also were able to see possibilities that we couldn’t even imagine. Many of our mentors introduced us to new people and experiences. Become a mentor and learn how to help others propel forward.
4. PROMOTE A CULTURE OF CONNECTIONS
Leaders also need to encourage team members, collaborators and colleagues to create a workplace of leadership connectors. If every person could see that by helping promote and grow others that they are also developing themselves, then becoming connectors will be the norm. It will evolve into leaders helping leaders without fear.
[Tweet “To develop future leaders create a culture of leaders helping leaders.”]
How have you become a leadership connector? What strategies have promoted a culture of helping others make connections?
When you wrote about people who are afraid or reluctant to help others accelerate their career path, I was surprised. I never felt that way. If I could help mentor someone and support them to get promoted or have a new opportunity it was the best part of my job. I’m saddened that you see people, other leaders, threatened so often. The idea of holding someone back, or simply not helping them forward seems like the anthesis of leadership. I’ll definitely share this piece in the hope that others, can benefit.
It says a lot about the rapport that you create in your classrooms that people are willing to share openly and honestly about their fears, shortcomings, and challenges.
Alli
It’s so interesting that you haven’t witnessed people who are unwilling to help others in the workplace. Unfortunately it can happen but doesn’t necessarily have to take place if leaders step up and realize that by helping grow other leaders they are also growing themselves.
Thanks so much Alli for sharing your experiences and for being such an incredible mentor and coach to so many of us!
Great article Terri…I really liked what you said about “When we put aside our fears (which are probably limiting us) and we open up our minds to grow and develop others, we can see the value of connections. ”
Often we don’t think about connecting with others because we are so absorbed in our world. When we stop focusing on ourselves and open up our minds, we “see” others. When we do, we realize they are often in a position to help us.
I agree and what a great point about being so busy with in our own careers that we don’t always see who out there may be an influential person to network with. It does go both ways with us looking to others for help as well as reaching out to uplift the people around us. We can’t be afraid to extend our hand to make an introduction for someone. That meeting could make the difference in helping someone get to the next step.
Thanks LaRae!
Hi Terri,
A twist on #3 “Add Mentoring to Your List of Skills” is to engage in a reverse mentoring relationship. Ask a younger person to be your mentor. You’d be surprised at what you will learn, how the person will help and how you will grow and develop them at the same time.
I was introduced to this concept by a partner at PWC. He gave a passionate talk about how powerful it was for him and his young mentor. The concept started with Jack Welch at GE as a way to transfer knowledge. And yes, it works.
Will share.
Terri
I am also a fan of reverse mentoring and have seen it create stronger work relationships and teams.There is so much that different generations can learn from one another if everyone is willing to keep an open mind and be generous.
Thanks Terri for sharing you PWC story with us!