As appeared in INC. Magazine
Leaders today must lead not just from their heads, but with their hearts. They must have passion for their work, compassion for the people they serve, empathy for their fellow employees and the courage to make bold decisions. Leading with your heart is nether easy nor soft. It takes considerable effort and many experiences to develop the qualities of the heart. As Buddhist monk Thch Nht Hnh once said, “the longest journey you will ever take is the 18 inches from your head to your heart.
Bill George, former chairman and CEO of Medtronic and currently a professor at Harvard Business School shares these 3 skills that will instantly improve your leadership abilities…
1) Develop self-awareness.
Self-awareness is the key to everything because all positive changes begin with an honest appraisal of who we are, where we are, and why we are here.
2) Practice Living your values.
When you gain self-awareness, you are prepared to practice living your values. “Your values are standards of behavior that shape your true north, derived from your beliefs and convictions. Being clear about your values is essential to sustaining your leadership and not getting pulled off course.”
3) Be a Coach
“Coaching is the process of fully engaging a team and brining out the best qualities and skillsets in each member. The best coaches are deeply engaged and care about each team member, even in large organizations. Next challenge is to organize your team such that everyone is working in their sweet spot, that role where they can utilize their strengths and are highly motivated to contribute. From there you can challenge them to perform at their best, and remain engaged with them to help solve their problems.

Daniel Goleman discusses his 6 Leadership Styles for Team Leaders