Err on the side of over-communication...

As a business leader, De Pree fostered the idea of an inclusive corporation, one in which all voices were heard: he was known for saying that companies should “err on the side of over-communication”. The idea of being a servant leader has grown in popularity in recent years; it goes together with emotional intelligence, which refers to the ability to perceive, control, and evaluate emotions. The basics of these two are:

 

Servant leaders:

·      Create a culture of trust

·      Have an unselfish mindset

·      Foster leadership in others

·      Encourage diversity of thought

Emotionally intelligent leaders have:

·      Empathy

·      Motivation

·      Social skills

·      Self-regulation

·      Self-awareness

These can be the basis of a company’s management beliefs and values, but according to Gallup data, only 27 percent of employees strongly believe in their company’s values. If we are to be successful leaders, those numbers must go way up. How can that be done? By trusting, respecting, listening, understanding before trying to be understood, caring about others, remembering that it’s not about you, and being aware of your emotions and those of your employees.  Leaders who are passionate about these two sets of complementary management practices create great company cultures and stable workplaces. This is what today’s employees are seeking from their companies and leaders. Be an emotionally intelligent servant leader today.

 Max De Pree (1924 – 2017) was an American businessman (The Herman Miller Co.) and writer (management books)