People-First Leadership for New Leaders and Managers

Ever wondered how to truly unlock your potential as a leader? Discover the transformative power of a people-first mindset in our latest episode of Things Leaders Do. Join Colby Morris as he reveals the secrets of becoming a leader who prioritizes the well-being, growth, and engagement of their team above all else. Drawing wisdom from leadership luminaries like Patrick Lencioni, Brene Brown, and Simon Sinek, Colby breaks down the power of empathy, humility, and active listening. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to cultivate a thriving workplace culture where individuals feel valued and empowered.

Learn practical steps to shift your leadership style, especially if you've never had a people-first leader to model after. Colby dives into the essential attributes needed to become this type of leader and shares actionable advice on fostering an environment where your team can bring their whole selves to work. Whether you're a newly promoted manager or a seasoned leader feeling that something is missing, this episode provides the roadmap you need to become the kind of leader your team deserves. Tune in and start your journey toward exceptional leadership today!

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

Welcome to Things Leaders Do, the podcast that uncovers the secrets of becoming an extraordinary leader. If you're a leader who's constantly seeking growth, inspiration and tangible ways to level up your leadership, then you've come to the right place. Remember, the world needs exceptional leaders, and that leader is you. Now here's your host, colby Morris.

Speaker 2: 0:28

Hey leaders, welcome back to another episode of the TLD Podcast. I'm your host, colby Morris, and I want to thank you for being here. I appreciate everyone who has been listening, and boy did those AI questions and prompts. The last few podcasts that we've done over AI and leadership kind of stirred some people up and remember AI. We're just trying to keep the human factor involved but also finding another resource.

Speaker 2: 0:59

But today is something different. We're going to look at this completely different topic and it's one that is close to my heart. It's one that I teach and preach often and I think it's crucial for every single leader. But today I'm going to address you, new leaders. Okay, and that is how to become a people first leader, especially when you've never had it modeled for you.

Speaker 2: 1:27

Leadership is a journey, right, and for many of us that journey it starts with a clear roadmap. Okay, and for a lot of us it starts without any type of roadmap. Okay, maybe you've been promoted because of your technical skills, or perhaps you've been leading for a while, but you feel something's missing. Often, that missing piece is a people first mindset and leadership style that prioritizes the well-being, the growth, the engagement of your team above everything else. But what happens when you've never seen that kind of leadership in action? How do you develop those attributes yourself? Well, today we're going to explore what it means to be a people first leader, okay, the key attributes of this leadership style and, most importantly, how you can become one, even if you've never seen it. So what exactly is a people first leader? Well, at its core, being a people first leader means that you put your team members at the center of everything you do. It's about recognizing that your primary role as a leader isn't just to achieve goals or drive results. It's to serve your people, to help them grow and to create an environment where they can thrive.

Speaker 2: 2:52

Patrick Lencioni, in his book the Advantage, argues that the health of an organization and, I guess, by extension, the success of the leader, is directly tied to how well the people in the organization are treated. He said the single greatest advantage any company can achieve is organizational health. Yet it is ignored by most leaders, even though it is simple, free and available to anyone who wants it. People first leadership is about more than just being kind or considerate. It's about being intentional. It's about creating a culture where people feel valued, where they're encouraged to bring their whole selves to work where their contributions are recognized and appreciated. So let's break down the key attributes of a people first leader. If you want to be this kind of leader, here's what you need to do. Here's what you need to embody.

Speaker 2: 3:55

The first is empathy. A people first leader must be able to understand and relate to the emotions and the experiences of their team members. Brene Brown, which I love this book in her book Dare to Lead, she emphasizes that empathy is the key component of courageous leadership. She says empathy is feeling with people. It's about putting yourself in someone else's shoes and responding in a way that shows that you truly care about their well-being. The second is humility. Humility in leadership is about recognizing that you don't have all the answers and that your role is actually to serve your team, not the other way around.

Speaker 2: 4:45

Simon Sinek, in his book Leaders Eat Last talks about that importance of humility, okay, and how it creates a safe and trusting environment. He said in there great leaders are willing to sacrifice their own personal interests for the good of the team. See, a humble leader puts his or her ego aside and focuses on lifting others up. And number three is active listening. And we talk about active listening quite a bit. Okay, my personal definition is just listening to understand and not listening to respond. Okay, being a good listener, it's crucial for any leader, but for a people first leader, it's a non-negotiable. It's a non-negotiable. Active listening means giving your full attention to your team members, understanding their concerns, responding thoughtfully. Patrick Lencioni, one of my favorites, often talks about the importance of trust in teams. Trust starts with listening. When your team knows you're genuinely listening, they will feel valued and respected. And number four is consistency. A people first leader is consistent in their actions and decisions. Consistency is one of those things that builds trust, because your team knows what to expect from you.

Speaker 2: 6:16

I don't know if you listen to the Craig Groeschel podcast his leadership podcast. If you don't, you should. I don't know why you're not. He emphasizes the importance of consistency in leadership. He says people would rather follow a leader who is always real than one who is always right. Consistency in treating your team with respect and fairness that is a key to building strong people first culture.

Speaker 2: 6:44

So what if you haven't seen these attributes modeled in your own leadership journey? Maybe you've had leaders who are more focused on results than relationships or who didn't prioritize the well-being of their teams. Does that sound familiar? I know I have. Okay, it can feel daunting to try and become something you've never seen, but here's the good news it is entirely possible and it starts with a decision.

Speaker 2: 7:18

First, acknowledge that you may not have had the best examples of leadership, but that doesn't mean you can't create a new model for yourself. Reflect on the leaders that you've had. What did they do well? Where did they fall short? Use those reflections as kind of a starting point for the kind of leader you want to be. And second, commit to learning and growing.

Speaker 2: 7:44

Leadership is a skill and, like any skill, it can be developed. If you're serious about becoming a people first leader, make it a priority to seek out the resources that are going to help you grow. Seek out the resources that are going to help you grow Beyond the books and the insights from Patrick Lencioni, brene Brown, simon Sinek. I mentioned Craig Groeschel's Leadership Podcast. All those resources are out there for you. Additionally, I'd recommend John Maxwell's the Five Levels of Leadership. It's a classic and John Maxwell is who I consider one of the fathers of leadership development. That is a great resource, maxwell. In that book he explores how leaders can move from the morning, depending on when you're listening to this, to become a people first leader.

Speaker 2: 8:56

First one start with empathy. The next time you're in a meeting or a conversation with a team member, practice empathy. Try to truly understand their perspective before you offer up your own. Ask open-ended questions. Listen with the intent to understand and not to respond. Be vulnerable. Don't be afraid to admit when you don't have all the answers. Vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness, and you've got to get that through your head. When you're honest about your own challenges and limitations, it encourages your team to do the same and that creates that culture of openness and trust. And just so you know, a lot of leaders struggle with that because they're afraid to show their weaknesses or admit what their weaknesses are to their team. And hey, if that's you, I want you to know something. They already know You're not hiding anything. They already know your weaknesses. They probably know You're not hiding anything. They already know your weaknesses. They probably do an impersonation of your weaknesses. They know. Just own it.

Speaker 2: 9:58

Number three make time for your people. Being a people first leader means prioritizing your team's needs. You have to schedule regular one-on-ones. You have to ask for feedback. You have to show you're invested in their growth and their well-being. Those small gestures, those can have a huge impact. And again, invest in your growth. Okay, number four, that's, invest in your own growth. You have to commit to reading books, listening to podcasts or attending workshops Okay, anything that will help you grow as a leader.

Speaker 2: 10:34

Again, I mentioned earlier, uh, john Maxwell. Uh, his leadership principles are what I cut my teeth on when I first started getting into leadership. I was. I read everything John Maxwell could possibly write If he was on a podcast. I listened to it, okay, and you have so many more options out there today.

Speaker 2: 10:54

So, before we wrap up, here's a few key resources that I want that I've mentioned, probably either on this podcast or previously, that are going to help you on your journey to becoming a people first leader. The first one is books. Okay, a couple of the ones I mentioned Dare to Lead by Brene Brown. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek. The Advantage by Patrick Lincione. The Five Levels of Leadership by John Maxwell. Extreme Ownership by John Maxwell. Extreme Ownership. Jocko Willink and Leif Babin wrote that one Podcast, the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, is, hands down, my favorite TED Talks. If you haven't seen Brene Brown's TED Talk on vulnerability, you don't know what you're missing. That is a must watch that ties closely to leading with empathy. So remember, leadership is a journey and becoming a people first leader is a commitment to that journey. It won't happen overnight, but with intention and with practice and a willingness to grow, you can become the kind of leader your team needs.

Speaker 2: 12:13

Hey, I want to thank you all for joining me on today's episode of the TLD podcast. I hope you found this discussion on people first leadership helpful. Okay, here's what I want you to do Start focusing on how you can become a people first leader. If you want to connect with me, you can. All my connections are in the show notes. Usually, linkedin is where everyone comes to connect. I'd love to connect with you, have a conversation If you have questions, if you want to know more about being a people first leader, ai prompts, whatever it is I would love to help you. So go out there, work on becoming that people first leader, even if you haven't seen it modeled for you. And you know why? Because those are the things that leaders do.

Speaker 1: 13:05

Thank you for listening to Things Leaders Do. If you're looking for more tips on how to be a better leader, be sure to subscribe to the podcast and listen to next week's episode. Until next time, keep working on being a better leader by doing the things that leaders do.