Be a Humanistic Leader and Beyond

From the desk of Jeffrey A. Mangus, CEO, Mangus Media Group

“The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.” ― Jim Rohn

“I’ve got a huge problem. Can you help?”

This hit me one morning. A team member was facing a major dilemma with another staff member. Left unchecked, this kind of thing can create a ripple effect that destabilizes an entire company. As a leader, I knew I had to defuse it, but more importantly, I had to ensure both individuals felt heard. My goal? An amicable solution.

How did I pull it off? Simple. I listened.

 I sat there open-minded, showing genuine compassion and empathy to each person and for the situation. As a leader, I recognized I needed both perspectives to make an informed decision and effectively resolve the issue. I showed my team that I'm human, that I care, and that I can sympathize with their views. That alone almost diffused the whole situation. It boiled down to both team members simply wanting to be heard. I've been using this method for years, and it has proven effective.

Sadly, too many leaders today just… disengage. However, the first step to being a truly effective leader is to engage, be present, and be approachable. When your team truly believes you have their back and that you’re there to help them, it sends a shockwave of respect and morale throughout your entire organization.

Beyond respect, visibility, and value, teams crave leaders who display genuine human qualities. They want leaders who listen, who share their own vulnerabilities, and who create a safe and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. When leaders prioritize their team's well-being and personal growth, they don't just get a motivated workforce; they get higher productivity, improved collaboration, and enhanced innovation.

 As technology and automation continue to transform the workplace, it's absolutely critical that you, as a leader, connect with your teams on a deeper, human level. This positivity benefits everyone, creating a culture built on empathy and understanding.

There’s undeniable power in human connection in leadership. That power lies in empathy, compassion, and understanding. Your role in displaying these qualities is crucial for inspiring, influencing, and supporting your teams. By being personal and approachable, you become relatable, and that's a win-win for everyone involved.

Unfortunately, a common trap for leaders is getting sidetracked and failing to truly see and acknowledge the people around them. Recognizing your team’s emotional atmosphere and being in tune with your surroundings isn't just a nice-to-have; it's essential for fostering a thriving company.

 Human leaders recognize that their teams have personal lives outside of work, and those lives can be complex and challenging. Being open and understanding about these situations is a necessary step toward gaining genuine respect as a leader.

We all know humans make mistakes. No matter how hard we try, we're going to stumble. When leaders are relatable, they understand that mistakes happen, and they cut their teams some slack.

 To be clear, I'm referring to genuine efforts that just don't quite meet the mark. We can learn and grow from these failures, and a compassionate leader recognizes them as bumps in the road, seeing them as opportunities to improve.

 Jim Rohn, the legendary author and motivational speaker, consistently emphasized the importance of failure. He argued that not learning from feedback is a huge hurdle. Feedback is crucial for finding areas to improve, fixing errors, and making progress. If you don’t receive feedback, you’ll continue to make the same mistakes and ultimately go nowhere. As a leader, you need to encourage your team to seek feedback and be open to constructive criticism as a chance to learn and grow.

As your leadership becomes more relatable, make every effort to create an environment where team members feel encouraged to learn from one another, even when mistakes and failures inevitably occur.

 At Mangus Media Group, our elite team of writers and publishing professionals operates with absolute transparency and camaraderie. We work as one cohesive unit, ensuring every project benefits from diverse expertise and a shared commitment to excellence. This collaborative spirit enables us to create exceptional books and innovative content strategies that truly stand out.

 Ultimately, today’s workforce isn't looking for robots; they need empathetic, self-aware, and mindful leaders. Teams are searching for leaders with these qualities and the determination to keep improving them. Being a human leader means knowing how your actions and attitude impact not only your team but yourself. These social skills aren't just soft skills; they're how you level up your leadership game and truly satisfy your team.

If you're a leader with a book idea you'd like to discuss, please speak with me and our your team about your book concept and idea (click here).