Читать книгу Leadership - Michael Heath, Michael Heath - Страница 13

We sometimes describe people as ‘a really warm person’. We might also refer to someone as being ‘cold and distant’. A leader doesn’t necessarily have to be liked. But they make life so much easier for themselves when they are. The ability to show genuine personal warmth towards employees can be a real advantage.

Showing personal warmth to people must be genuine. Haven’t you noticed that those who only pretend to be personally warm often come across as patronizing and insincere? Insincerity in a leader is usually disastrous. Better to be a cold – but honest – leader than a false, insincere one.

So let’s look at those characteristics warm people might possess.

 They like people. They know that everyone has their faults (including themselves!) but they accept people for who they are.

 They make the person they’re dealing with the centre of attention. They show strong eye contact and listen carefully to what the other person is saying.

“One kind word can warm three winter months”

Japanese proverb

 They take a genuine interest in the lives of others. They know many people take great pleasure talking about their lives and their families.

 They smile and look pleased to see people. They greet people and show that they are genuinely pleased to see them.

 They have open body language. They appear relaxed and at ease when chatting. They stand in a way that the other person finds comfortable. For example, not standing full on to a shy person.

 Their voice has a wide pitch range. Cold people have a very limited range when speaking. A warm person’s wide pitch range conveys real enthusiasm.

 They’re careful not to dominate the other person. They make sure that the other person has an equal input to a conversation.

 They avoid aggressive behaviour. Unfortunately, some people start by showing personal warmth but let it turn into the heat of anger!

 They care about people. When someone is upset they quickly look to help. They show empathy with someone who is having a difficult time and listen patiently.

A leader has to be persuasive. And one of the qualities that can aid their ability to persuade is the degree to which they can build and maintain the necessary personal warmth with their team.

People who fake personal warmth can appear insincere and patronizing.