One of the hardest things a leader can do is to continue to care for others despite all the reasons not to. Thoughts on leadership by Shon Holyfield, CEO of TTR Inc.

1. WHAT IS GREAT
LEADERSHIP?
One of the hardest things a leader can do is to continue
to care for others despite all the reasons not to.
By Shon Holyfield

2. True greatness is to refuse to get
angry or frustrated in the face of bad
things done to you or by those around
you.
To never seek revenge or
retaliation, but instead seek to
understand the other’s point of
view with care – this takes great
patience and much practice.

3. This starts with you and the
example you set. As a leader,
you will make mistakes.
You will do things that don’t work.
You will say things that hurt people’s
feelings. This will just happen.

4. Your ability to forgive yourself and
openly apologize to the entire group
will set an example for all those you
work with.
You will be admired for it. It takes
courage. It will prove to them that it
is safe to make mistakes and that it is
okay to openly discuss mistakes.

5. How will a team improve if they cannot
talk about mistakes?
The team that is willing to discuss mistakes
without anger, frustration, discipline, or
punishment will learn from mistakes and
understand better how to avoid them in the
future.

6. The team that is worried about ridicule,
discipline, looking stupid, punishment, and
anger will avoid talking about mistakes
and continue to make them forever.

7. Understanding is at the
center of great leadership.
Understanding that most of your peers
want to do things right and well.
Understanding that their intentions, no
matter how it may appear on the surface,
are probably good – no matter how bad it
may look.

8. You need those around you to
succeed. You cannot do it all alone.
done to you or by those around you.
You need them to come to you with problems
and mistakes and issues. They will never do so
if they fear punishment. Make it safe. Make it
okay.

9. Lead them with patience and
understanding.
Share with them openly the mistakes you have
made and be patient with them. Make it safe.

10. Here is the challenge. How do you
make it safe enough for them to come
to you with problems and mistakes?
How do you make it safe for them to do their
job and complete tasks? How do you positively
encourage them to quickly bring things to your
attention what you would want brought to your
attention?

11. You have to make it safe
by how you act.
No matter how much you may want to scold them or tell
them how wrong they were, no matter how bad the
situation may be, no matter how upset you may be –
listen patiently. Show care in your eyes and your tone of
voice. Focus on understanding the issue or problem and
find a safe way to solve it.

12. Bring them with you. Pick
them up – help them rise
above it.
Support them. They want to be led. Lead them. They
need you. Ignore the bad, focus on what they did right
and help solve it with them. Let them know it will all be
okay. Then show them that it is.

13. It requires great courage and patience
to care for others when things go wrong.
When a person argues with you or disagrees or does
something that is just not okay. Never shy away from
handling the situation. Just do so with patience and a
desire to understand. Do so without harsh words, an
angry face, or impatience in your tone of voice.

14. It takes practice. You
will mess it up.
All great leaders do. It is okay. Apologize when you
do and work on doing it better next time.

15. Happiness, a great work environment,
and improving people’s lives will only
exist in the absence of hate, fear, and
punishment.
You don’t have to do any of this to be financially
successful. You can make money without any of what is
written here.

16. You have to make it safe
by how you act.
No matter how much you may want to scold them or tell
them how wrong they were, no matter how bad the
situation may be, no matter how upset you may be –
listen patiently. Show care in your eyes and your tone of
voice. Focus on understanding the issue or problem and
find a safe way to solve it.

17. Years from now, if you want your
legacy to be one where people think
fondly of their professional life and you
in it, take what is written here to heart.
They will remember you as a great leader and one they
prefer over all other leaders. To care for and seek to
understand those around you may be the single greatest
thing a leader can do. Do it well. You will improve
people’s lives in so doing.