Tag Archives: Trustworthy
6 Ways Leaders Should Be Like Mothers
6 Ways Leaders Should Be Like Mothers
Mother’s Day 2017
Dear Leaders,
Today is a time we set aside to celebrate our mothers. Motherhood is often a thankless and tiring endeavor. It’s easy to take for granted the hard work, sacrifice, and love that moms contribute to our lives. So today we pause to appreciate the countless ways our mothers have positively influenced us and shaped us into the people we are today.
In many ways, moms are the ultimate picture of servant leadership in action. They always have the best interests of their children in mind and will go to great lengths to help them grow, develop, and succeed in life. They are able to harmonize the polarities of unconditional love and tough love, and do so in such a way that their children always know that mom has their back. Mothers are simply amazing leaders.
Using the acronym MOTHER, here are six ways leaders can improve their effectiveness by embodying the characteristics and behaviors of great mothers:
How Do You Recognize a Trustworthy Leader?
I’m hearing people talking about trustworthy leadership everywhere I go. We all crave it. We seek it out because trustworthy leadership allows us to be at our best so that we can make a meaningful contribution.
To recognize a trustworthy leader, look for all of these tell-tale signs:
- Values Centered – character, integrity and moral awareness are top priorities
- Full Congruence – behaves the same way in every context, and shows congruence between thoughts, words and deeds
- Genuinely Cares – treats people well – everybody, not just the inner circle
- Shows Respect – demonstrates respect for people and differences
- Other Focused – realizes that leadership is about bringing out the best in others – and it shows in every interaction and conversation
The best leaders strive to live out all five of these characteristics every day. They center themselves in positive ethical values like respect, care and trustworthiness.
What should you do if you can’t find a trustworthy leader? Keep looking. They’re out there.
HENRY KOTULA 