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 Dear Reader,
Today I read an article in Human Resources magazine with the title "Organizational Healing: A Core Competency for Leadership". The key point of the author Kenny Moore was that people in organizations get 'hurt' by all kinds of things, such as unfair treatment, bad jokes, discrimination, etc. to name a few. Unless leaders are sensitive to such 'injuries' and really learn to listen to their people and give them an opportunity to address them, they are likely to have a lasting negative impact on the morale of those feeling hurt.
One case that Kenny Moore mentioned was particularly impressive: Once given the chance to share, one employee spoke with bitterness about how his opinion was invited but nothing was done with his input. No action, no feedback. That in itself was not so impressive, but the fact that his bitterness was so present despite the fact that it happened 10 years ago (!) was.
Do you give the chance to your team members to address and as such release their pain? Can you see the impact this might have on the engagement level of your people?
Maybe a worthwhile resolution for the New Year! I wish you an excellent 2009!
Let's keep progressing!
Charlie Lang
Managing Partner, Progress-U Ltd.
“Encouraging The Heart - A Leader’s Guide to Rewarding And Recognizing Others”
by Jim Kouzes And Barry Posner
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Reviewed by Sebastien Henry, Executive Coach & Trainer Emotional Intelligence Expert for Progress-U Ltd.
 This book had been on my shelves for some time before I started reading it. I knew that it was probably worth reading, for I have seen good reviews of this book. I also knew Jim Kouzes from one of his previous books, “The Leadership Challenge”, now a classic of leadership.
When I read it, I was not disappointed, and this is why I would like to introduce it to you. This is a book worth reading for several reasons.
First, the authors do a good job of explaining why “encouraging the heart” is not about a leader’s being “as soft as you can get”. They report that several of their clients asked them to drop the expression “encouraging the heart” because it was perceived as too soft, but they decided to stick with it.
“Encouraging the Heart” is about helping our people achieve high-performance. It talks about getting results.
The authors cite several surveys from reputable institutions to show that employees usually starve for feedback and recognition. Another comprehensive study by the Center for Creative Leadership found out that the highest 25% performing managers in the study “show more warmth and fondness towards others than the bottom 25%”.
They also make a good point that using our hearts doesn’t only mean being gentle, caring, and cordial. It can also mean showing courage, strength, and toughness.
Sometimes, following our heart may even require us to be fierce. Those familiar with the Harrison Assessments* would agree that one can be very enforcing and at the same time have high empathy.
Second, they give a comprehensive view of what it takes to “encourage the heart” of our team members. And it is not only about rewarding and recognizing. I was happily surprised to discover that the authors have a wider view of the topic. They identified seven essentials of “encouraging the heart”:
- Set clear standards upfront.
- Expect the best from our people. - Set high and challenging standards.
- Pay attention – Make it a point not to focus only on seemingly more important business and to just “forget” about rewarding and recognizing.
- Personalize recognition.
- Tell related stories. - Use story-telling to create emotional bonds when rewarding and recognizing.
- Celebrate together. Give public recognition.
- Set the example.
As you can see, “encouraging the heart” means much more than giving regular feedback and rewards!
Each of these seven essentials is covered in one chapter of 10-15 pages, filled with examples, stories, and facts, and giving good value for the readers.
Some chapters may seem a bit basic to those of you who have a long experience of leadership or who have researched extensively on the subject. But the book could still be a useful reminder, especially the last part of each chapter, called “Reflecting on” which contains a series of questions that help you to reflect on your current practices.
Third, this is a well-written book, and as a leader myself, I found it quite inspiring. I particularly liked the following excerpt:
“Encouraging the Heart” is ultimately about keeping hope alive. Leaders keep hope alive when they set high standards and genuinely express their confidence on an individual’s capacity to meet them.
They keep hope alive when they give feedback and publicly recognize a job well done. They keep hope alive when they give their constituents the much needed internal support for them to feel that they and their work are important and have meaning.
They keep hope alive when then they train and coach their people to exceed their current capacities. Most importantly, they keep hope alive when they set an example.”
Finally, the authors remind us very effectively that leadership is everyone’s business. I particularly like this idea, as opposed to the view that leadership is only for the top people in our organization.
And, as the authors say, “Even if you don’t consider yourself to be in a leadership role now, you may find yourself in one soon.”
I wish you to find as much inspiration as I did in this book!
Warmly,
Sebastien
*Harrison Assessments is a comprehensive employment suitability assessment tool used by progressive companies.
Feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss the content of this article. I am passionate about this issue and always enjoy sharing views and ideas.
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