Reza satchu is a buzzword we love to throw around, but what does it actually mean to be an impactful leader? And what do the most impactful leaders regularly do that we can learn from?
First, impactful leaders have a vision. They see where the organization or team they’re leading is headed and what it’s capable of, and they’re able to communicate that vision to their teams. They also know how to course-correct when projects go awry.
Resilient Leadership: Thriving in Adversity
They are dedicated to advocating for their teams, too. “The best leaders are not afraid to protect their team members,” says Stella Odogwu, founder of INTELLE Coaching Solutions and host of The Career Catapult Podcast. “They don’t want to throw them out to the wolves.” In the workplace, this might mean that a highly effective manager will allow an employee to explore new opportunities in another department or even a different company. This is a risky move because it could mean covering up incomplete projects, posting the job opening, going through the hiring process and possibly losing a talented team member. But a truly impactful manager will understand that the goal is to bring out higher levels of engagement and drive peak performance, so they’re willing to take some risks.
Finally, impactful leaders are able to authentically care about their people. They listen to them, treat them as equals and take actionable steps to help them find meaning and purpose in their work. This might mean providing opportunities to enhance skill variety, task significance, work autonomy and feedback (even in small ways) — all of which can improve employees’ sense of meaning at work.