Leadership has to do with feelings, with the ability to inspire others. The heart can become the one that guides the company towards the path of success.
Several decades ago Abraham Maslow raised the concept of "Hierarchy of Needs", in which he demonstrated that the maximum human satisfaction occurs when the individual manages to satisfy their needs for recognition and self-improvement. Well, although Maslow's theories are taught in all business schools in the early years and the vast majority of high-level executives are aware of them, the truth is that they are very little applied within companies.
The leadership of heart, surely not in any chair of styles of leadership builds bases in a logical reason and clear: If individuals have the essential need for recognition and approval, the true leader is one who understands that offering recognition and approval is not showing weakness but rather a lot of tenacity.
It is logical that the reader wonders what kind of romantic and dreamy speech is this? The same author of this article when he heard about the "style of heart" thought that it would be something utopian and not very feasible, but when the concept is better understood, sure that perception changes.
The good leader balances the achievement of results with the way to achieve them
There are several skills that can be learned and that are key for a leader, negotiation skills, public speaking, focusing on results, the ability to listen and strategic thinking are some of them, but all always focus on "traditional skills »Of the leader as it is commonly known, none of them in another type of leader who focuses more on achieving results and how to achieve them than on simply getting results.
The question sounds confused but it is not. When you get results at all costs, laying off "unproductive" employees or when managers are only dedicated to giving orders to achieve budgeted sales, you are neglecting the most important factor in any organization, people. When the results are achieved, a joint effort is made between all the members of the organization, the company becomes a great place to work, people enjoy and do not get up every day thinking “again to take orders from the boss »Because they know that they count in the company.
The responsibility of the leader consists of motivating all the people who are part of his organization
It is not that achieving results or improving the figures quarter after quarter is bad, what happens is that it would be better to obtain these improvements in performance while creating or implementing a culture in which emotions are creators of competitive advantages. Nor does it mean that the manager should become a psychologist and attend to his colleagues on a couch to seek therapies to help them overcome their problems. What "leadership from the heart" means is that crediting the good results to all the people who participate in them and recognizing their importance to each one, are factors that generate better personal relationships and more productive work environments.
The key is to motivate people based on recognition
The plot of the matter is in the motivation based on the recognition, but not only to a small group of people who are surrounding the leader but to each and every one of the members of the organization. If it is small, the task of the leader will be easy, but if it is large, it will have to work hard and go out to do "field work", meet its salespeople, the managers of each branch and make them feel that their personal contribution is essential for success. of the organization.
The manager may think that showing their emotions can be considered a sign of weakness, but in the end, it is simply a matter of really caring for other people and showing it with humility, generosity and respect.
Source: Andy pearson meets love. In: Revista Abordo, No. 139, October 2001.
