Along with reliability, growth, and being people-focused, one of the four core values of Multi Business Solutions is leadership.
Leadership is more than just guiding a team to achieve goals; it also requires understanding and meeting some of the most basic psychological needs of your followers. Our team recently read John C. Maxwell’s book The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. He clearly explains why each quality is important for leadership and practical tips for applying them.
In this post, we’ll focus on a few additional qualities that matter for leadership: trust, compassion, stability, and hope. We will delve into why each trait matters, and how you can learn and develop these qualities throughout a lifetime. We’ll also share how we promote these at MBS.
1. Trust
Why Trust Matters
Trust is the cornerstone of any successful relationship, including the one between leaders and followers. We must start with trust. If trust is not the foundation, attempts to satisfy the other needs will often fall short. When followers trust their leader, they feel secure, respected, and valued.
How to Build Trust
- Transparency: Be open about decisions, processes, and changes. Provide clear explanations and be honest about challenges and setbacks. Be willing to have difficult conversations.
- Consistency: Follow through on promises and commitments. Consistency in actions and decisions builds reliability.
- Integrity: Uphold strong ethical standards. Lead by example, demonstrating honesty and fairness in all interactions.
Leaders must acknowledge that their credibility or expertise in an area does not in and of itself build trust. As Brené Brown states in her book, Dare to Lead, “It turns out that trust is in fact earned in the smallest of moments. It is earned not through heroic deeds, or even highly visible actions, but through paying attention, listening, and gestures of genuine care and connection.”
Brian Brim, author of Strengths Based Selling, asserts that trust must also go both ways: “For me to be trusted [as a leader], I have to trust – I have to give up things and show you that I trust you in order for you to be able to trust me.” It’s getting out of their way to allow them to do their job – to let go of control and say, “this is yours.” Effective leaders know when to step back and let others take the lead.
When leaders create an environment of trust, it encourages trust between team members, as well. When a leader models transparency and reliability, team members are more likely to mirror these behaviors in their interactions with one another. This mutual trust promotes open communication and collaboration, reducing misunderstandings and conflicts. As a result, the team becomes more cohesive and engaged, working together more effectively to achieve common goals.
On the flipside, a whole lot of trust can be eroded in one interaction. For example, a single instance of dishonesty, disrespect, or broken promises can significantly damage the trust that has been built over time. When someone feels betrayed or let down, it can create doubt and uncertainty about future interactions. Rebuilding trust takes consistent effort, transparency, and a commitment being reliability and honest in every subsequent interaction.
Building Trust at MBS
One way we build trust is by having each team member hold a weekly 1-on-1 meeting with Megan. These meetings are fairly open-ended, with time to discuss work projects, ask and answer questions, check in on goal progress, and bring up any work or personal topics on your mind. Open, two-way communication is key.
2. Compassion
Why Compassion Matters
Compassionate leadership shows followers that they are more than just cogs in a machine. It acknowledges their humanity, their struggles, and their contributions. By recognizing their individual needs and challenges, leaders can provide the necessary support to help them thrive. This approach not only boosts morale but also cultivates a sense of belonging and loyalty within the team.
How to Show Compassion
- Empathy: Listen actively and without judgment to your team members’ concerns and experiences. Show understanding and support when they face challenges. Recognize the difference between empathy and sympathy:
- Empathy is the ability to understand and feel from another person’s perspective, by putting yourself in their shoes. Empathy fosters connection.
- Sympathy is understanding from your own perspective, and can result in passing judgment on how another person is coping with a situation. Sympathy can show care, but typically keeps people at arm’s length.
- Flexibility: Be accommodating with work arrangements when personal issues arise. Offer support and resources to help them balance work and life.
- Recognition: Celebrate achievements and milestones. Regularly acknowledge the hard work and dedication of your followers.
Seeing followers as whole people with feelings and emotions might involve asking, “How are you feeling?” instead of just “How are you doing?” This simple shift in language shows a deeper level of care and concern. It’s also important to recognize when your team members are struggling or might need encouragement from you or a reminder to take care of themselves.
Cultivating Compassion at MBS
Since we are primarily a remote team, connecting through Slack is incredibly valuable to us. Our goal is to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their wins and losses, highs and lows – whether work-related or personal. We celebrate learning from each other and support each other through technology frustrations or challenging interactions. We also come together for major life events, from celebrating the birth of a child to mourning the loss of a loved one. As one of our team members said, “It’s like working with true friends everyday!”
3. Stability
Why Stability Matters
Stability in leadership provides a sense of security and predictability, allowing followers to focus on their tasks without the constant worry of sudden changes or uncertainties. It helps in maintaining mental and emotional well-being.
How to Provide Stability
- Clear Goals: Set clear, achievable goals and expectations. Regularly communicate these to avoid confusion and ensure everyone is on the same page.
- Structure: Implement and maintain consistent processes and workflows. A structured environment helps in minimizing chaos and uncertainty.
- Support Systems: Provide resources and support to help followers navigate their roles and responsibilities effectively.
- For many employees, it’s important for them to know that their boss or a team member is there to assist when they have a question or need help.
When employees feel stable, they are more likely to be productive, engaged, and motivated. Stability reduces stress and anxiety, enabling individuals to perform at their best and contribute meaningfully to the team.
Ensuring Stability Through Growth at MBS
Stability doesn’t mean there can never be change; it means keeping a solid foundation while adapting to new circumstances. For example, MBS has experience tremendous growth over the past few years. We’ve maintained our core values by adding team members who exemplify our core values, and continuously update our technology and processes. By providing training and support, we ensure our team stays current with industry advancements. This approach helps us to navigate change smoothly and with consistency.
4. Hope
Why Hope Matters
Hope is a strong motivator. It inspires people to aim for excellence and envision a positive future. Hope drives innovation, resilience, and a proactive attitude within a team.
How to Inspire Hope
- Vision: Share a compelling vision of the future. Help followers see the bigger picture and the role they play in achieving it.
- Encouragement: Foster a positive outlook, even during challenging times. Highlight progress and celebrate small wins to maintain momentum.
- Development Opportunities: Invest in the growth and development of your followers. Provide opportunities for learning, advancement, and skill enhancement.
Hope is about seeing the potential for good things ahead, both in the immediate future and over the long term. By focusing on a better tomorrow and taking action today, we can build optimism and direction. Setting clear goals and working towards them keeps people motivated and excited about what’s to come, making hope a powerful force for progress.
Pursuing Hope at MBS
Our purpose is “to spark progress by simplifying numbers and strengthening people.” This vision is reflected in each of our core values. We strive to live our core values in tangible ways, whether we’re interacting with our fellow team members, clients, families, or our communities. Every team member sets a yearly goal that not only inspires them, but also promotes growth in line with our core values.
Earlier this year, we participated in the “Ignite Community Leadership” pilot program class of 2024, sponsored by the Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce. During the six sessions, we gained a wealth of practical leadership insights. Natalie and Megan presented on Servant Leadership in one of the sessions. If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, we encourage you to join the 2025 program, which starts in January. We’ll share more details as we receive them, or you can keep an eye on the Chamber website for updates.
You’ve likely noticed how interconnected the four basic needs of trust, compassion, stability and hope are. Focusing on one of these areas often sparks positive change in the others. Since leadership is a skill that can be developed, explore ways to incorporate these elements into your own work environment and interactions with others. Practice with your coworkers or family, and take advantage of various local resources to expand your leadership skills.