The Power Of Encouragement In Leadership
When I was a teenager, I attended a youth camp each Summer.
At the time, I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was just something really special and meaningful about my time there.
And while those times have been fun to recall and talk about with friends over the years, it wasn’t until I began volunteering at that same camp as an adult that I began to understand what was so special about the summers I spent there.
You see, for me, it wasn’t just the teamwork, fun competitions and lifelong friendships made that were so meaningful. Those were certainly great. But, what made those years so pivotal for me was that through the counselors and staff at that camp, I received encouragement.
I began to see myself through other people’s eyes, instead of just my own. When I did, I realized I had some specific talents and skills, but they needed developing and refining.
Encouragement In Leadership Is Powerful
This may not be your story… and that’s OK.
The point is that if you’re a living, breathing individual, you want and need encouragement.
It’s encouraging to hear “you can do it,” or “great job.”
It’s encouraging when someone comes alongside you after a failure and says, “it’s gonna be OK, we’ll get ‘em next time.”
It’s encouraging when people see the best in you and not just the bad.
And, it’s encouraging when people see you as you can be (we’re all on a journey, right?)
Leaders, those you are entrusted with need encouragement.
Now, some will say an encourager is soft.
I disagree.
You see, people don’t need encouragement INSTEAD of direction and correction, they need it IN ADDITION to those things, in healthy doses. It makes the direction and correction more effective.
Now, be careful not to use encouraging words to manipulate.
As we talked about in “Top 5 Leadership Fails,” those who use manipulation are really only trying to benefit themselves, and it will eventually be obvious to all.
Be An Encouraging Leader
Practice seeing the strengths of others and let them know what you see. It may take some time, but I think you’ll find that you yourself will be encouraged when you see how encouragement can put a smile on people’s faces.
Encouragement often makes people more productive as well. There is no person that can run through a brick wall for their leader like one who is healthily encouraged.
Someone at that Summer youth camp saw leadership potential in me and encouraged me not to waste it by leading others down the wrong path. And, that’s encouragement that still motivates me to this day.
Be a leader that encourages.
Encouragement lifts morale, it improves productivity, and you’ll be on your way to taking your leadership to the next level.
