Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1046888
www.HartfordBusiness.com • November 5, 2018 • Hartford Business Journal 25 EXPERTS CORNER Essential habits of good leadership By Stephen C. Wakeen S tephen Covey's landmark book, "The 7 Habits of Highly Eff ective People," emphasizes the habits of personal vision, empathic communication and creative cooperation, among other things. Other habits not covered by Covey deal with external factors, such as exercising disciplined strategy. Still, other habits focus on employees, such as encouraging dignity in the workplace (read Dr. Donna Hicks' excellent new book, "Leading With Dignity"). In my practice, I see all kinds of leaders with diff erent habits, both good and bad, but the most eff ective leaders all share common traits. Here are fi ve essential habits that breed the best leaders: The habit of belief Studies by IBM (in 2010, 2012 and 2014) found that most leaders do not feel prepared for the complex world in which they are leading. Many CEOs openly wondered if they were "in over their heads." But they press on. Successful leaders allow a strong belief to carry them, even when they cannot predict the future. Belief can be conta- gious, too. The habit of authenticity Eff ective leaders value authenticity. They are courageous, but realistic. Lead- ers must answer to their boards, telling truth to power — and to their executive teams. If the ship is headed in the wrong direction, it is the CEO who must break the news. There is a fl ip side: CEOs value the truth from their employees. An au- thentic leader is prepared to hear what he/she does not necessarily want to hear. On the other hand, if you fi nd it forbid- den to speak respectfully but frankly, then you may have a culture challenge. The habit of empowerment Great quarterbacks lead their receiv- ers. While the quarterback gets most of the credit, he's actually showing off his team. The best leaders let the team score the touchdowns. They encourage it. When leaders nurture the power of the team's talents, ideas multiply. People are engaged. Results are better. While a leader may direct the play, he/ she celebrates the team when it is suc- cessful. The habit of over-communicating It is often said that the two keys to leadership are relationship-building and communication. While building relation- ships seems obvious, communication is less so. This is because leaders can fail to recognize the importance of repetition in communication. It makes sense. Our short-term memories hold thoughts for fi ve to seven seconds. Repetition helps transfer key ideas from short-term to long-term memory. The habit of consistency New issues and the demand of the day-to-day are distractions and the enemies of consistency. Look back, for example, at something your company "used to do well" that you no longer do. It is often diffi cult to know why you stopped doing it. Great leaders are systematic. They establish "keystone habits," which are the habits of execution that matter to the company's success more than any others. Creating your habits of leadership, whatever they may be, taps into human- ity's desire for predictability and sim- plicity, both of which can lead to better performance. The habit of consistency is the most important. You can be more consistent about your leadership behavior and expectations. Start with your "keystone habits." Can you identify them? Stephen C. Wakeen is the founder of Connecticut-based Playbook Coaching LLC, which provides executive coaching services. HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM POLL LAST WEEK'S POLL RESULT: Should taxpayers stake a plan to convert Hartford Regional Market into a higher- profi le tourist attraction? NEXT WEEK'S POLL: Should UConn build a $45 million ice rink in Storrs for its men's and women's hockey teams? To vote, go online to hartfordbusiness.com BIZ BOOKS Consumer focus key to business growth By Jim Pawlak "All About Them – Grow Your Business by Focusing on Others" by Bruce Turkel (Da Capo Press, $24.99). Turkel identi- fi es the dynamics of today's con- sumer succinctly: "When all products are similarly functional and accept- able, it's the way the product makes you feel, not the way it works, that matters." He speaks to the emotional part of the buying experience — peo- ple want to diff erentiate themselves. Examples: 1. The Toyota Prius vs. the Honda Civic Hybrid. The two cars have al- most identical fuel-economy stats and price, yet there are close to a million more Priuses on the road than Civic Hybrids. Why? The Prius has an un- mistakable design while the Civic Hy- brid looks like a Civic. A Prius makes a visual statement about its owner. 2. Uber vs. taxi. It's cool to call Uber; it's passé to call a cab. People also want to tell people about their experiences (especially the bad ones). The transparency of the digital world allows consumers to quickly spread their message to their con- tacts, and creates a domino eff ect as contacts share/ retweet on social media. Without such access, the "United Airlines Broke My Guitar" YouTube video wouldn't have nearly 16 million views — and United wouldn't have altered its policy on damaged luggage. How does the consumer's fi xation on being diff erent aff ect a business? It changes the business' mindset from "Why do you like or dislike our product?" to one that asks consumers: "Who are you," "What are you passion- ate about," or "What's important to you?" Many of their answers can be found by tracking social media trends. The answers identify hot buttons that businesses must push to deliver "what's next." The mindset change also involves "being" the consumer. Executives seldom work through customer issues. I doubt the CEO of AT&T would have been happy spending two hours on the phone like I did to resolve an issue involving online access to my account. The bottom line: Focusing on con- sumers ignites their passion for the brand/product. 32.9% Yes 67.1% No READER COMMENTS: "Aren't taxpayers already footing the half-billion dollar bailout of Hartford?" "Marketplaces can be a big draw for locals and visitors alike. They can highlight local products, create better outlets for local food/beverage producers, and generate income." "Why would tourists go to buy fruits, plants and veggies? It's not exactly in the touristy part of town either." Jim Pawlak Book Review Stephen C. Wakeen tacts, and creates a domino eff ect as contacts share/ retweet on social media. Without such access, the "United Airlines Broke My Guitar" YouTube video wouldn't have nearly 16 million