Podcast Summary
Leading Up: Influencing Those Above You: Everyone can influence and lead those above them, regardless of position, through the right attitude, approach, and manner.
Regardless of your position in an organization, you have the ability to influence and lead those above you, a concept known as leading up. Craig Groeschel, host of the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, emphasizes the importance of this skill and shares his personal experience of leading up when he was a young adult trying to make a difference in his church. He encourages listeners to approach leading up with the right attitude, approach, and manner. The podcast episode covers high points from previous teachings on the topic and provides application questions to help listeners implement these concepts in their own leadership journey. Ultimately, leadership is influence, and everyone has the capacity to make a difference, no matter their level in the organization.
Leading up: Influencing those above you: Regardless of position or age, everyone can influence and lead those above them through honest communication and sharing ideas
No matter your position or age, you have the power to make a difference and lead up within your organization. The speaker's personal story illustrates this concept perfectly. Despite not being in a leadership role, she was able to influence her pastor and bring about positive change by communicating honestly and sharing her ideas. This upward communication not only benefited the church but also opened doors for the speaker to grow and take on more responsibility. It's important to remember that leadership is not limited to those in charge. In fact, those on the front lines often have unique perspectives and ideas that can significantly impact their organizations. So, don't be afraid to speak up and lead, no matter where you are in the hierarchy. Your ability to lead up now can pave the way for greater opportunities and impact in the future.
Leading up by serving and showing honor: Serving those in leadership positions and showing honor builds influence and effective leadership, even without a title.
Personal power, based on trustworthiness, caring for people, and getting things done, is now more valued than positional power. Leading up by serving and showing honor to those above us is an effective way to influence and build relationships. It's important to acknowledge that leading up can be risky, but honoring those in authority, regardless of their leadership style, is a powerful way to build influence. Remember, respect is earned, but honor is given. By focusing on honor and showing respect to those in leadership positions, we can make a difference and lead effectively, even without a title.
Respect and timing are essential for leading up: Showing respect and understanding timing are crucial for building positive relationships and successfully influencing those in leadership roles
Both honor and timing are crucial elements when trying to lead up or influence those in positions of authority. Honor matters because showing respect and serving those you want to lead up to is essential for building a positive and productive relationship. Timing, on the other hand, plays a significant role in the success of pitching ideas or influencing decisions. It's essential to understand the rhythms and schedules of those you serve and choose the best time to approach them with your ideas. Preparation is also vital, as being well-organized and respecting their time can make a lasting impression and lead to more productive conversations. In essence, honor and timing are two essential keys to effectively leading up and making a positive impact on those in leadership roles.
Bringing solutions instead of just pointing out problems: Approach interactions with a pure intention to serve, bring potential solutions, arrive on time, be organized, and demonstrate initiative to build trust and influence within your organization.
Having the right motives and bringing solutions, rather than just pointing out problems, are key to gaining trust and influence in an organization. Timing and initiative also matter. Arriving on time and being organized demonstrate respect for others' time and commitment. Initiative involves taking on tasks that will lighten the load of your leaders and help make their world a little easier. Remember, motives matter. Approach your interactions with a pure intention to serve and contribute positively to the mission. Don't just point out problems, but bring potential solutions. This shows you're thinking critically and caring about the organization's success. By focusing on these elements, you can build trust and influence within your organization.
Proactively add value to your leader: By intuitively finding important things to do and offering help, team members can build a strong relationship with their leader and increase their influence, benefiting both the individual and the organization.
Being a proactive and valuable team member can lead to significant influence and access to leadership. By intuitively finding important things to do and offering help without being asked, team members can lighten their leader's load and build a strong relationship. This not only benefits the individual team member but also the organization as a whole. Additionally, having the right motives, taking initiative, and speaking truth are essential for earning and maintaining influence. As leaders become more successful, it becomes increasingly important to surround themselves with individuals who are honest and reliable. So, if you want to make a difference and increase your impact, look for opportunities to add value and be a go-to resource for your leader.
Valuing truthful feedback from staff: Leaders should appreciate and publicly acknowledge truthful feedback from staff to foster a culture of honesty and continuous improvement.
As leaders become more successful and influential, it becomes increasingly challenging to find truthful feedback. People tend to tell leaders what they want to hear rather than the hard truths that can help them grow. Valuing and appreciating those who speak the truth, even if it's difficult to hear, is essential. When leaders acknowledge and publicly credit those who share valuable insights, it encourages others to do the same, fostering a culture of honesty and continuous improvement. One of the most significant moments in the history of a church, as shared by its leader, was not a groundbreaking innovation or a large-scale project, but a simple act of humility and respect from a staff member named Jerry Hurley. Jerry's willingness to serve and support the leader, despite his greater experience and influence, created a foundation of trust and mutual respect that allowed Jerry to have significant influence within the organization.
Empowering Leadership: Balance Vision, Inspiration, and Empowerment: Empowering leaders balance casting vision, inspiring people, and empowering them to act. Controlling leadership hinders growth and limits impact. Identify areas for growth in honor, timing, motives, initiative, and truth, take practical steps to improve, and look for opportunities to add value.
Effective leadership involves a balance between casting vision, inspiring people, and empowering them to take action. A controlling leadership style can hinder growth and limit the organization's impact. To become an empowering leader, identify the area you need to grow the most among the five factors that matter: honor, timing, motives, initiative, and truth. Take practical steps to improve, such as initiating solutions instead of just pointing out problems. Look for opportunities to add value and bring improvements to your organization. Remember, you don't need a title to make a difference; all you need is the right heart and insight.
Empowering Team Members to Lead Up: Leaders can foster growth by letting go of control and trusting team members to identify opportunities and take charge. Employees should approach leaders with good timing, the right motives, and a spirit of honor to bring improvements to the table.
As an employee, identifying opportunities for improvement and bringing them to your leader requires good timing, the right motives, and a spirit of honor. It's essential to understand your leader's rhythms and approach them with a desire to add value and make things better. For leaders, empowering your team to lead up means letting go of control in specific areas and trusting them to take charge. This not only allows your team members to grow but also enables your organization to thrive. Remember, as a leader, you can have control or growth, but not both at once. By being authentic, clear, and focused on your mission, you can effectively lead and inspire those around you. Don't overwhelm yourself with the need to always get it right; instead, show up, be real, and care about people.
