All too often as change practitioners we find ourselves unable to establish the influence we feel that we need with leaders. When this happens, the tendency is to melt into our role rather than be ourselves; to speak gently—if at all—about things the leaders need to do differently for the change to succeed; and to play the game to stay in the game.
If you are comfortable in this role, or need to maintain it for personal or professional reasons, then How Can You Spot True Leaders? They Do Any of These 3 Super Rare Things Daily may not be an article for you.
But if you are looking for leaders you can support while being true to yourself, Marcel Schwantes identifies these three things to pay attention to.
- They speak their truth
- They display courageous vulnerability
- They manage with compassion
Not every leader who expresses herself in this way will be right for you. Perhaps your truths aren’t aligned, your “styles” clash, or there is no “chemistry.” But keep looking. True leaders are out there that you, as a true practitioner, can successfully support.
Brian Gorman is the Managing Editor of Change Management Review™. In this capacity he regularly curates articles of importance to our readership; contributes original writing; hosts podcasts; and works with guest authors.
For more than five decades Brian has been engaged in—and a student of—change at the personal, organizational, and societal levels. During this time, he has worked with both individuals and organizations (ranging from solo practitioners to Fortune 100 businesses), guiding them through a wide array of challenges. Decades of experience have given him a deep appreciation of the universal patterns that underlie successfully navigating even the most difficult changes.
In addition to his work as our Managing Editor, Brian is a transformation coach, supporting both individual and organizational change. Brian is committed to passing his “lessons learned” on to others, so that their change journeys can advance more smoothly. He is a frequent workshop facilitator and public speaker. Brian is the author of “The Hero and the Sherpa,” a chapter in the online Handbook of Personal and Organizational Transformation (Springer Publishing; Judi Neal, Editor). He also has an extensive library of blog posts, articles, and videos on the change journey, including “The Ten Most Important Lessons I Have Learned Over 50 Years of Engaging Change.”
Mr. Gorman’s formal education includes a BA in Cultural Anthropology from Syracuse University, an MA in Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas, San Antonio and an MA in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma.
Brian is an International Coach Federation (ICF) certified coach, and is an active member in the New York City chapter. Brian is also a member of the Forbes Coaches Council and the Gay Coaches Alliance.
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