How to ACE Leadership
ACE stands for three leadership characteristics that I think are crucial for all good leaders to have: Authenticity, Clarity, and Emotional Intelligence. Let's dive in!
Authenticity: Be the Real You
Authenticity is the foundation of trust. When you're an authentic leader, you're not trying to be someone you are not. You're leading with your core values, your unique strengths, and your genuine personality. This is a characteristic I value so much that I named my company Authentic Leadership Coaching after it. Think about a leader you know who is transparent about what they do not know and their challenges, and yet also lives into their strengths and successes without pretense. This kind of genuineness is powerful. It makes leaders relatable, builds trust, and demonstrates to teams that it's okay to be human.
Being an authentic leader means:
Owning your mistakes: Instead of hiding them, share what you've learned. Fail forward! This builds a culture of psychological safety where your team feels safe to take risks and innovate.
Aligning your actions with your values: If you value integrity, your decisions should reflect that, even when it's difficult. You will earn others’ respect this way.
Showing vulnerability: This isn't a weakness; it's a sign of strength. See Brené Brown’s work! When you're willing to be vulnerable about challenges you face, you give others permission to be vulnerable too, strengthening your team's bond.
Clarity: The Path to Success
As a leader, if you aren’t clear, nothing else matters. Clarity is your ability to communicate your vision, expectations, and goals in a way that everyone understands. Many of you know "Clear is Kind" is one of my favorite phrases. So much so, that I framed it and hung it above my coaching chair, so I can easily reference it with clients. When a team knows exactly where they are going and why, they can move forward with purpose and confidence. Think of a pilot and their co-pilot. They need to be absolutely clear on the destination and the flight plan. Without that shared understanding, they can't fly the plane. ✈️
To lead with clarity, you should:
Be direct and concise: Avoid jargon and rambling explanations. Make the key points clear.
Set clear goals: Use frameworks like SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to ensure your team knows what success looks like.
Provide regular feedback: Don't wait for annual reviews. Give your team timely, constructive feedback so they can course-correct and grow. And if particular aspects are going well, and they are doing a great job meeting expectations, don’t neglect telling them that too. Affirmation is key to motivation!
Emotional Intelligence: Connecting with Your People
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is your ability to understand and manage your own emotions, and to recognize and influence the emotions of those around you. It's the "secret sauce" that makes leadership truly effective. When you are emotionally intelligent, you can navigate conflicts with empathy, motivate your team by understanding their needs, and build strong, lasting relationships. A leader with high EQ can read a room, sense when a team member is struggling, and offer support before being asked.
Develop your emotional intelligence by:
Practicing self-awareness: Pay attention to how you feel and how your emotions impact your decisions and actions. Know your key strengths and weaknesses. Be aware of the energy and emotions you bring to the room.
Listening actively: Truly pay attention to what people are saying, and also what they are not saying. Look for non-verbal cues and ask thoughtful questions to understand better. If you are having a hard time understanding where they are coming from, get curious. Use the phrase, “Tell me more.”
Showing empathy: Put yourself in your team members' shoes. Try to understand their perspectives and challenges, and let them know you are paying attention in this way. Remember, “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Your Call to Action: Start ACE-ing Leadership Today!
Authenticity, Clarity, and Emotional Intelligence are not innate traits; they are muscles you can strengthen with practice. This month, I challenge you to pick one of these characteristics and focus on it. How can you be more authentic? Where can you be clearer? How can you better connect with someone on your team?
ACE-ing leadership is an ongoing journey. Follow us on social media and stay tuned for next month's newsletter, where we'll share more tips and insights to help you grow.
And of course, leadership coaching is the best way to strengthen all of these characteristics! Book a 15-minute phone call via AuthenticLeadershipCoachingSC.com, and we can discuss your leadership coaching goals for you and/or your team members, and which coaching package would be the best fit. It is my greatest joy to work with my clients and see them ACE leadership in all aspects of life!
