People follow leaders for just one of two reasons. It is either because they have to, or because they want to.
The difference is that leaders whose followers follow because they have to, apply position power. Position power is that granted them by their title in the organization and how it relates to those that are following them.
Alternately, other leaders invest significant time and energy developing relationship power. The investment pays off with high levels of loyalty from their followers, who follow because they want to, not because they have to.
The position power leaders invest little or no time developing the relationship because they don’t need to. In their mind they have a title and a position that allows them to dictate to get what they need from people, and often lead through fear and intimidation.
For those that prefer to lead and influence through relationship power there are three specific traits worth developing, humility, authenticity and vulnerability (what I call the H.A.V.e strategy):
Humility
Humility is defined as the “quality or condition of being humble, modest opinion or estimate of one’s own importance.”
Many leaders believe projecting humility shows weakness or a lack of confidence and competence. This belief leads to the exact opposite, which becomes projecting arrogance.
Humility, in the right dose and level, is an extremely powerful trait. Humility allows the leader to be open to feedback and to always look for ways to become an even better leader.
Leading with humility also opens the door for the next trait, vulnerability.
Vulnerability
Vulnerability shows a leader is human and not perfect.
Leaders that show their warts, share when and how they have failed, made mistakes, or made bad decisions, either in the past or in the moment, show their humility and humble personality.
It takes tremendous personal strength, confidence and self-esteem for a leader to be humble enough to be open to showing some vulnerability.
There is power in vulnerability because it leads to the trait that results directly in building the relationship power that creates deeply loyal followers, authenticity.
Authenticity
Part of the definition of authenticity is “genuine, real, reliable and trustworthy,” which is what leaders should be projecting.
Position power leaders unwilling to be vulnerable project a false confidence that followers will see through, be uncomfortable with and will not trust. This makes loyalty impossible. They will create a compliance mindset in followers that get things done at only minimal levels.
Leaders humble enough to be vulnerable will project an authenticity that is highly attractive. This authenticity creates a trust between the leader and his or her followers, developing a loyal bond and a commitment mindset that leads to high levels of performance.
One caveat in applying this H.A.V.e leadership trait approach is that too much humility and vulnerability will not lead to authenticity, but rather a feeling of incompetence.
So, applying the proper level of humility and vulnerability is important. This is more art than science.
Yet, in over 30 years leading businesses I’ve found most leaders would do well to add more humility and vulnerability to their style, not less.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and let’s start a conversation on the value of a leader’s ability to lead with humility, and vulnerability that creates an attractive authentic leader.
