David Rock, Executive Director of the Neuro Leadership Institute commented during a recent webinar that the conscious brain can only work with a small number of concepts at once and this was a major reason that many leadership development programs fail to have the desired effect. We overload the brain by introducing many modules in a short period of time and by doing so, we do not allow the process to take place whereby learning of an individual idea becomes a behavioural changing habit. To do this the brain wants us to break development down into smaller elements that can be learnt, recalled and experienced so that they have the chance to become habitual before moving on to another module.
This may prolong the length of a leadership program but we get our return on investment not by the completion of a program but by the change in behaviour that impacts results back on the job, and this happens by allowing the process of experience and embedding new habits to take place. We promote successful learning by allowing the experience to take place.
When I asked David what he would start with on a leadership program if, as suggested we introduce and experience one concept at a time, he suggested that a great starting point is in understanding the impact that we have on others.
Why impact on others is important
This by no means lessons the importance of other leadership attributes but points to the basic truth that our impact on others is at the very core of leadership success. In fact, it is at the very core of relationships both professional and personal of any nature. Sales people require a clear understanding of how they impact others to be able to positively influence. Team members need to understand their impact to ensure collaboration, cooperation and positive progress. It’s important for parents to understand the impact that their words and behaviour has on their children, and leaders require this understanding if they are to build relationships, and influence and inspire people to be at their best.
Start with Self Awareness
Understanding the impact that we have on others starts with building our self-awareness. That is, in short, according to Daniel Goleman, the ability to understand our own moods, emotions and drivers as well as their effect on others. It is a basis for understanding how successful we will be in our ability to inspire change, influence behaviour and achieve results for our organisation.
Self-awareness and the impact that we have on others is at the core of Emotional Intelligence. It is a foundation skill upon which to build well rounded leaders who can drive corporate performance through their ability to successfully engage a workforce.
So, for changed workplace results, focus on one key element that will have the greatest effect. Keep it simple and re callable and allow leaders to experience the concept and its impact. Understanding the impact that we have on others is a great place to start.
Gordon Sanderson is a Certified Social and Emotional Intelligence Coach with the Institute for Social + Emotional Intelligence (ISEI) ®. His work building highly capable leaders is based on the principles of Emotional Intelligence, Neuroscience and understanding strengths.
