Great Leaders
C.A.R.E.
Communication - Action - Responsibility - Empathy
What makes a good leader? I went on a quest to find out.
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Clear themes emerged from the interviews and research I completed.
When I interviewed non-profit board members and community leaders to learn what it takes to be a great leader - overwhelmingly, the most common theme was that one needs to truly care about the cause and how to treat others.
Sounds simple - just care, right? Well, there is more, much more.
Great leaders demonstrate four main skills that help them be both effective and caring.
Check out the skills below and learn how to develop them.
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From the classroom to the boardroom, from a team to a small group discussion - I know that you will be a great leader if you C.A.R.E.
Communication
Communication consists of what I call the
3 C's of Communication - Clear, Concise, and Complete
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Clear = You know what you want to communicate and share it in a way the listeners can clearly understand the message. Think about your voice, tone, and engaging with the listeners.
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Concise = You share your message with clarity. You prepare for the conversation or presentation so your thoughts are organized. You stay on point and don't get distracted.
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Complete = What you communicate is accurate, relevant, and thorough. You invite others' points of view to add to the conversation.
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Here are some great resources to develop communication skills:
Action
As a leader, it is important that you take action
and you inspire action in others.
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Sometimes that can look like you taking the first step
or speaking up when no one is talking.
It can be thought of as setting an example for others.
Another important element of action is
being clear with others about what you need them to do to help the project succeed.
Share specifics, expectations, and timelines.
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Here are some resources to help you develop action skills:
Responsibility
Being a responsible leader means that
you are dependable,
make good choices,
take accountability for your actions,
and create a culture where your team is responsible, too.
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Examples can include:
showing up when you say you are going to show up
(or communicating when things change),
completing tasks assigned to you on time,
and considering the needs of others
when you make a decision.
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Many of these skills are critical
to building trust with your team members.
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Here are resources to help you develop responsibility skills:
Empathy
Empathy can be defined as
the ability to imagine oneself in the situation of another and to understand and share in their feelings.
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Empathy is the key ingredient for positive friendships, relationships, and teamwork.
Tips to be an empathic leader:
Listen (and I mean truly listen),
create an environment where team members
feel free to share openly,
and show concern and care for others.
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Empathy is a power skill, one that superpowers you
and superpowers communication,
action, and responsibility.
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Here are some resources to help you develop empathy skills:
