Over the last few weeks, we have seen and perhaps been subjected to lots of different leadership styles.
At the extremes, there are really two big categories. Fear based leadership which says “Do what I say, or else,“ and trust-based leadership that says, “We’ll find a way through this together, follow me.” On the surface, they may seem similar, and in the moment, both can work. But in the long run, that is not the case. As Jill Avey says, “Fear gets compliance. Trust gets performance.”
I get that fear often wins the news cycle and is a convenient short-term tool to get folks to do what you want them to do. But it also breeds backlash and revolt and change.
As leaders who expect to be in the role for the long haul, building trust is quite simply more effective. (If you want the data to back this up, it’s at the end of the email.)
I love this graphic of Avey’s that explains how to move to a trust-based style.
Have a great week, no matter what.