Over the last 4 years, I have spent time at Leicestershire Cares in a managerial capacity. My time there provided me with the opportunity to interact with a diverse set of people of varying ages. Whilst delivering services to younger participants and networking with professionals and business members, I learned a few lessons about love and leadership.
The Cambridge dictionary defines leadership as a set of characteristics that makes a good leader. A leader is therefore more than just their job title. Sometimes a job title provides little or no insight into who a person is or whether they will become a good leader. Leadership is therefore a set of characteristics. Different industries require different skill sets but a leader who has focussed on developing the right leadership characteristics can make more impact on an organization whilst learning the relevant skills required in their specific industry.
“No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care”
This is a quote that is widely attributed to Theodore Roosevelt and it is one which should be adopted by every emerging leader and established leader. In order to effectively lead your team or organisation, you must be prepared to show them how much you care, and they will eventually begin to care about how much you know.
Coming from a legal background combined with a project management background, my time at Leicestershire Cares taught me how to soften my approach and lean towards a more caring approach whilst keeping the end goal in mind. This approach takes a lot more time, but it creates longer lasting impact. When you work in an environment where cash is king, and profit triumphs, it becomes a lot easier to slide into an attitude that magnifies the end at the expense of the means. In this process, the people you lead become merely a resource, dispensable, and reduced to their abilities to perform comparable to a computer or note pad. Such an approach is likely to alienate you from those they lead. When those you lead know that you truly care about them, you can be certain that they are more likely to go over and above for you and the organisation.
My time at Leicestershire Cares taught me that leadership is a lot more complex than just achieving a stated goal. Leadership demands that a leader must love those they lead. The word “love” in the workplace seems ill suited but it was indeed what helped me connect with differing personalities. Although it was not a word I used directly during my working life at Leicestershire Cares, it was a word I tried to carry quietly in my heart, and it was one I used freely on my last day at Leicestershire Cares.
Navigating the treacherous path of leadership can therefore only be accomplished successfully, if you decide in your heart that irrespective of the challenges you face, you are going to love your team and organisation in your heart. It is from this vantage point that you can then effectively inspire your team and lead them to learn, produce, and grow.
To the CEO of Leicestershire Cares, Kieran Breen, your vast international experience helped to bring a distinguishing edge to Leicestershire Cares. To present and previous members of the team at Leicestershire Cares, as well as our wider partners, please know that you are all loved and you have impacted me in your own way. I will carry you all forever in my heart.
Written by Chikodi Lori
Disclaimer
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and reflects personal insights on leadership and workplace development. It does not constitute professional advice, and should not be relied upon as such. Any reliance placed on this content is at your own discretion.