Chris Folland here with this week’s focus – inspiring and enquiring, rather than requiring.
So, what does this mean? Well, it relates to leadership. 1
Let’s work our way backwards, starting with requiring.
When I was growing up, the standard form of leadership was the requiring type of leadership. I also witnessed it as a lawyer when I had to be there in the office for certain hours. I was required to be there from 8am to 6pm (and some!), 5 days week, although more often than not, although I was expected to work longer hours.
If I didn’t meet that requirement, I wouldn’t get a paycheck. If I continued to not meet requirements, I’d get fired.
Then, as a consultant, I saw the effect of requiring from the side of employees. I’d be brought in by a company to help improve their business productivity, and I was shocked at the style of leadership I saw.
Leaders who led by requiring barked orders at their staff.
They weren’t friendly, instead they were results-driven at the cost of people. I only had to sit and listen to the moaning in the lunchroom for 20 minutes to see the impact.
Leading people with force is requirement.
A step up in terms of a better style is enquiring, and Fi does this very well. A leader who enquires is one who finds out what problems people have. It’s a consultative approach to leadership. After identifying the challenge, an enquiring leader finds out if the person is open to a solution and helps them put simple steps in place to reach it.
This guidance fosters accountability and success.
The last style is inspiring, which is where true leadership sits. We also see it in settings where someone is doing something out of genuine passion and desire, such as volunteering or being on a sports team. It’s the type of leadership that’s fueled by service and that models the example to follow.
Fi’s also very good at this one. She came from the field of osteopathy and built a number of successful health centres before deciding that she wanted a different future. She created a lifestyle to serve and to embrace holistic, purpose driven living. And by doing it, she has inspired others around the world.
So, thinking about the impact of leadership helps us recognise the value in enquiring and inspiring rather than requiring.
Message me if you’re interested to chat about this idea and how you might be able to harness it in your life, and be sure to join us for this week’s #AliveWithFi!
1 As leaders, an important place for each of us to begin is to “look at the way individuals (including ourselves) are motivated”.
For what reason?
It can be a powerful way to shift our own thinking and therefore the results we’re getting, and help others who are ready, to do the same.
“6 Tips for Successful Leadership in the Global Era”
M. Fox, (2018)
Fi Jamieson-Folland D.O., I.N.H.C., is The LifeStyle Aligner. She’s an experienced practitioner since 1992 in Europe, Asia and New Zealand as a qualified Osteopath, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, speaker, educator, writer, certified raw vegan gluten-free chef, and Health Brand Ambassador.
