Leadership Howler 5: Rigidity riles

Skyscrapers are built to be flexible at the top so they can move and sway with the wind, otherwise the elements would crack them over time. Like buildings, rigid leaders also crack because they alienate themselves, miss vital opportunities, resist new things and cause resentment among their team members. Working for rigid leaders is frustrating and demoralising.

Flexible leaders however:

- Deal effectively with change.

- Respond wisely to the different personalities of the people they lead.

- Demonstrate empathy, which is crucial in terms of delivering outstanding customer service, as well as outstanding employee experience.

- Empower and develop a range of people with different 'skill-sets'.


FLEXIBILITY DEFINED:

Being flexible does not mean being a door-mat and allowing people to walk over you.

Being flexible does not mean giving in to the many different demands which are made of you, or acting against your beliefs or gut instinct.

Being flexible does mean that you're able to stand in other people's shoes and consider the world from their point of view, before deciding whether that insight will alter the decisions and actions you take. It also means that regardless of your personality and strengths, you're able to apply a number of different leadership styles in the work-place.

Most people I know would argue they're very flexible, because they know that inflexibility is another word for dogmatic or narrow minded, but the reality is that inflexibility characterises many leaders. We can all improve our flexibility because being flexible is a skill and something which can be developed over time, so long as you are committed to continual self development, you have the right tools to help you, and the willingness to experiment with different behaviours, actions and choices which may not come naturally to you at first.

Thanks for reading!

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