I am often asked what I consider to be the most important leadership competency. Leadership is so multi-faceted and dynamic, what is most important varies based on the situation. But of course I am always compelled to provide a response. Without question, I believe the most important leadership competency is the ability to develop meaningful connections. Genuine and intentional connections are necessary to establish a foundation of trust and credibility that inspires colleagues to invest in their leaders.
A O.C. Tanner research study concluded; teams that believe they have a strong connection with their leaders are 7 times more engaged, and 3.7 times more likely to have a strong sense of purpose than those that do not feel connected. This is very convincing evidence that leadership connections are not only important, they are essential to developing a cohesive and driven team. Effective leaders are able to consistently demonstrate their interest in their colleagues success and well-being. More engaged employees translates to loyalty, commitment, and a determination to execute with purpose.
In our hyper busy work environment developing and maintaining connections is difficult. The relentless volume of communication and meetings, burgeoning strategic scopes, and evolving workplace dynamics make connecting with employees especially challenging. Without the right support structure making time to develop meaningful relationships can become secondary to the business of the day. A slippery slope for sure!
So how can meaningful connections be sustained? It comes down to fundamentals that we already know, but tend to get overlooked when we get busy. Below are 4 habits that when consistently reinforced will help leaders develop strong and meaningful connections:
As a Leadership Advisor Joe partners with executives to expand their capacity to develop high performing teams and cultures. Learn more about advisory services at:
Helping busy leaders reinforce fundamentals that drive organization performance.
