When it comes to moving learners from knowing to doing, the challenge is real for learning leaders. We understand the importance of establishing effective relationships with our teams, but putting that knowledge into action is a different story.
Recently, in a conversation with a mentor, I learned a valuable lesson about building relationships through shared experiences. This shift in perspective made me realize that simply being present with my team is not enough. Meaningful connections in the workplace require intentionality.
As leaders, we must be intentional in our actions and decisions. Reflecting on this, I recalled a book that has been a valuable resource for many leaders – “Simple Truths of Leadership” by Ken Blanchard and Randy Conley.
Within the pages of this book, I discovered nuggets of wisdom that shed light on what it means to be a proactive leader. Each of the 52 lessons resonated with me and I saw how they could be applied in my daily interactions with my team.
Seeking further guidance on applying these Simple Truths to leadership, I reached out to Randy Conley, one of the authors. I posed a question to Randy about how leaders can be more intentional in building effective relationships with their employees. Here’s what he had to say:
“One of the reasons Ken Blanchard and I wrote the “Simple Truths of Leadership” was to help people turn common sense leadership principles into common practice. Or, as you said, Jason, move from knowing to doing.”
Randy pointed out several key Simple Truths that can guide leaders in their journey towards building strong relationships:
Simple Truth 8: The best minute servant leaders spend is the one they invest in people.
Simple Truth 1: Servant leadership is the best way to achieve both great results and great relationships.
Simple Truth 12: Create autonomy through boundaries.
Simple Truth 21: Servant leaders don’t command to obey; they invite people to follow.
Simple Truth 28: Building trust is a skill that can be learned and developed.
Simple Truth 43: Since we were given two ears and one mouth, we should listen more than we speak.
These Simple Truths offer practical insights for leaders to cultivate strong relationships, foster trust, and empower their teams to grow.
Looking ahead, these Simple Truths serve as a foundation for leaders to navigate new challenges and opportunities. By embracing these principles, leaders can create shared experiences that build trust through servant leadership.
In conclusion, the best test of leadership lies in the growth of those served. As leaders, our goal should be to nurture healthier, wiser, and more autonomous individuals within our teams. By applying these Simple Truths, we can move from knowing to doing, and foster stronger, more effective relationships.
