My client Lila shared a story about the leader of her organization whom she had always described as being a very tough, smart, unapproachable executive, and maybe even a bit arrogant. This was her impression of him after several years working for the company. She did not think him a bad leader but he did not inspire her nor had he ever given her a reason to be a vocal supporter.
However, that changed last month. Lila told of a company-wide event where she witnessed the leader welcoming a young, new, and nervous employee in a kind and genuine manner. It happened as people were leaving – an interaction between just the two of them. It was really random that Lila happened to be standing nearby and saw it happen. Watching that 30 second encounter completely changed her perception of the leader, turning her into a real fan.
What is interesting to me is how something so seemingly minor, radically shifted Lila’s thinking about the guy.
Sometimes little things make the biggest impression.
Would love to know what kind of leadership behaviors move you from being neutral to an enthusiastic supporter. Leave a comment below or shoot me an email at laura@laurawolfephd.com