Your Relevance as a Leader

It was the 22nd of December.  Jammed parking lots surrounded busy shopping centers across Seattle.  I went into my favorite grocery store late in the afternoon and the crowds were such that I decided to come back early the next morning to shop.   And then I went into the adjacent Sear's store. . .and there was a customer over there. . .and a couple of customers a far piece down that uncrowded aisle. . .and look (!) there's someone over in ladies sportswear.    Busy?  Not even.   Nobody cared.

There has been much in the popular press about the financial straits of Sear's. (And today announces the closing of yet more Sear's stores).  My opinion as a retailer?   Sear's has lost relevance.   They don't have what people want.   They have based much of their customer draw on economics ("SALE!!!").   They seem not to have listened to their customers.   They have not stayed current with the times.    The customer no longer has a relationship to them.  Nobody cares.

And it is deadly.

Similarly, I have seen people who say they are leaders. . .but, they have no relevance with their teams:

• As a leader, they don't have want their teams want:   coaching, support, ability to promote, knowledge of and passion for  the business.
• They cynically believe that the relationship with the team is based on economics ("Well, I pay them a decent salary, don't I????   And this is the thanks I get?")
• They do not spend time in conversation with their team.    They don't know what their team is about.   They fail to really listen.
• They are not progressive:   their management style is stuck in the '80's. . .or even 1880's.
• They do not have a relationship with their team and consequently they do not have relevance to their team.

The intersections of business intelligence and team emotional intelligence build relevance.  Actively caring about a team, listening to a team, showing the team the future. . .this is what people really care about.   This is what makes you, as a leader, relevant.

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My book "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" is available on Amazon Kindle.