As temperatures plunge around the globe, a picture in the Facebook page of KRNV News 4 caught my eye. Probably because years ago I lived in Michigan and have seen the St. Joseph Lighthouse on Lake Michigan similar to this before. It made me think about the human need for safety and comfort.
When it's as cold as the last few days, you constantly hear warnings about keeping out of the extreme cold if at all possible. They talk about how soon your eyeballs can frizz. They talk about hypothermia. They talk about keeping warm. They talk about all kind of scary things that can happen if you are in the cold too long.
For most people, the warnings are almost unnecessary. You tend to reject the extreme cold, and crave the warm. From time immemorial, when the cold set in people looked for something hot to drink, and huddled around a fire in a protected place. They told stories, made plans, and found things they could do without leaving the comfort of the fire.
It's not different in workplaces around the world. In a cold business world, who do people gravitate to? They gravitate to leaders who. . .
- connect with others warmly.
- show empathy when some one is suffering.
- have warm words of praise for well done work.
- have a warm nod and smile for everyone.
- are attentive to people's concerns.
- laugh easily and lighten the atmosphere.
- serve others.
In other words, the leader who has and shows heart!
Research suggests effective leadership begins with warmth. In one study of 51,836 leaders, only a handful of leaders rated in the bottom quarter in terms of likability were also in the top quarter in terms of overall leadership effectiveness. ”In other words, the chances that a manager who is strongly disliked will be considered a good leader are only about one in 2,000,” according to the Harvard Business Review authors.
“Warmth is the conduit of influence: It facilitates trust and the communication and absorption of ideas. Even a few small nonverbal signals—a nod, a smile, an open gesture—can show people that you’re pleased to be in their company and attentive to their concerns. Prioritizing warmth helps you connect immediately with those around you, demonstrating that you hear them, understand them, and can be trusted by them.”
How cold or warm are you? Your temperature can make a big difference in how well you can influence.
Remember. . .
As a leader you need to be strong, but your strength has to be tempered by heart. Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.’s observation comes to mind: ”What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive."
In a cold world, your warmth is what will attract others to respect your leadership and listen to your ideas. To sit by your fire. Lead with heart!
