At some point Tanveer Naseer says it happens to almost every manager. Leadership Vertigo.
The idea that things are moving one direction when they really are not. Naseer says those feelings can manifest themselves in different ways—a project is viewed as being farther along than it is, a customer’s shrinking business is seen as a smaller loss than it really is—but there’s no question they happen.
And for as often as they appear when only looking at customer-facing results, Naseer says leadership vertigo is just as common, and sometimes even more harmful, when it happens internally.
A leader who misconstrues their relationship with their employees can have catastrophic effects.
During a presentation the VIPAR Heavy Duty Annual Business Conference Tuesday in San Antonio, Naseer offered four interconnected principles for leaders to help combat leadership vertigo.
Build community: Naseer says employees perform better when they are aware of their value to the organization and feel a sense of team. He says promoting the culture of ‘we’ and actively working to build relationships with employees can turn a fractured business unit into teamwork machine.
Develop competence: Naseer says any good leader must be aware of how their leadership is perceived by their employees. He says leaders who take time to connect with employees and listen to their thoughts, ideas and concerns can use that knowledge to communicate messages to the group.
Earn credibility: Naseer says this is all about self-awareness. A good leader must be willing to accept they aren’t perfect, and strive to improve. Naseer says taking time once a week to question your performance as a leader and look for areas to improve ensures you present your best self to your team.
Cultivate compassion: A no-nonsense, bottom-line driven leader can only motivate a team for so long. Naseer says leaders who show empathy and understanding toward their team have more long-term success. Humility from a leader matters, too. Accepting advice and guidance from employees is a good way to earn their respect, Naseer says.
