IDL134 Season 3: Intensity: The Great Separator
What is the biggest block to effective and successful leadership for modern leaders? What is the main separator that keeps you back from your people and your success? Why is connection so important to foster greatness?
Welcome back and thank you for being here! This is a special episode because I’m looking at the world and using that as the basis of discussion. Today I’m talking about intensity: the great separator. I dig into its benefits, drawbacks, and how it affects leadership.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
An individual performer - 03:06
What intensity does and does not do - 06:49
Compassion is a binder - 10:01
The 3 tactics to defend against intensity -13:39
An individual performer
“When you move to managerial positions … you can still kind of get away with being that overperformer … the person that [says], “Oh, if they can’t get it done then I’ll get it done. I’ll just take on more myself” … the problem then lies with leaders because a leader can’t do that. ”
A leader cannot burn the candle at both ends because what happens is that there’s not enough of them to get all of the work done.
A leader at that point needs to be free to encourage and empower and delegate to other people to do the work.
What intensity does and does not do
There is a correlation between individual performance and intensity, but it changes in a team-setting.
Intensity is also a barrier to effective leadership. If you want to do well as a leader, then you cannot be intense because it pushes people away and creates a tense environment around you.
“[Intensity] is a barrier to leadership and this is just in our world today. Why do I spotlight it and point it out? Because we’re going to get to watch in real time the ebb and flow of what intensity does in [these] organizations. ”
Intensity is divisive and it can have its place in success but the right moment needs to be chosen.
Compassion is a binder
“Compassion is a binder for getting the most out of a team. ”
Even though intensity divides, compassion is its natural counterpart that can bring people together.
Both aspects are needed, and again, the moment needs to be well-chosen.
The 3 tactics to defend against intensity
1 - Connect and communicate: connection is one of the greatest tools that leaders can use. Consider an engine; all the moving parts need to be connected in the right places for the machine to move forward.
“I believe connection is one of the greatest tools we can use as leaders. It is amazingly important in our world today. ”
2 - Practice empathy: you need to be able to see and hear someone to connect with them. Empathy is a vital piece in being able to foster true connection.
3 - Go together: walk together. Invite everyone along with you on the journey, and create the environment of togetherness because that rests on the foundation of empathy and connectivity.
Resources, books, and links mentioned in this episode:
Level Up Your Leadership with the free 4 Days To Maximum Impact Course!
Sign up for the roundtable at: hello@theimpactdrivenleader.com
Check out the Practice Of the Practice
About the Impact Driven Leader Podcast
The Impact Driven Leader Podcast, hosted by Tyler Dickerhoof, is for Xillennial leaders who have felt alone and ill-equipped to lead in today's world. Through inspiring interviews with authors from around the world, Tyler uncovers how unique leadership strengths can empower others to achieve so much more, with real impact.
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