Guess the fascinating entertainment show I’ve been watching these days!
No, it’s not one of these Netflix, Apple, or Amazon Original Series.
It’s neither a slap-in-the-face awards ceremony nor the ensuing “debate” on social media.
The show I’m talking about is happening in real life.
It has all the ingredients of a great drama: accusations, treason, unrealistic promises, scandals, heated debates.
It’s the French Presidential Election!
And I can’t help but draw a parallel with what I’ve experienced many times in my career in the corporate world when I had to deal with so-called traditional leaders.
Why does it feel so similar?
Let me explain:
Like these old-fashioned managers, most of our political leaders are still too abstract for their audiences. They tend to communicate the big high-level numbers to reach. Still, they have a hard time translating these into everyday life actions that speak to their audiences.
Their sense of persuasion is too narrow, as it focuses only on a portion of the audience. These political leaders fail to understand what’s motivating the majority of a diverse electorate. It leads to poor one-sided story-telling and a narrative that provokes fear more than inspiration.
Lastly, like these old-style managers, the aspiring presidents have been unable – so far – to create or nurture a learning community—a space for everyone to share knowledge across the board and debate new ideas. President Macron tried a few years ago with the citizen debates, but it fell short.
There’s no proper debate without a permanent open platform that welcomes diversity. Most exchanges turn into a yelling contest of tops-down dictates generated in a vacuum.
So, how can we fix it?
One might find the answer in a growing number of companies, where managers now hold the key to establishing a more authentic leadership. They’re reaping the associated benefits of more engaged teams:
– It all starts with truly understanding what’s motivating their team members and using this knowledge as the base for their proposals.
– They know how to persuade team members by embedding their arguments in compelling stories that speak to their audiences.
– As importantly, they’re not operating in a vacuum and don’t fear the positive confrontation of ideas. They’re not superheroes who get it right all the time. They need forums to exchange and build from there.
– To enable such forums, they nurture learning communities. All participants safely exchange and enrich the pool of ideas.
– Teams value the sharing of critiques and challenges with their leaders. It’s the foundation for inventing and generating more impactful solutions that people can relate to.
Although not pervasive, authentic leadership is picking up in the corporate world.
It keeps growing because everyone wins: goals are clearer, teams are more engaged, and results are stronger.
I’m no politician, and I realize that leading a democracy adds multiple layers of complexity, making it harder for most citizens to be and feel engaged.
Still, it’s a necessary inclusion. And one can only hope our political leaders will draw inspiration from what’s already happening in the corporate world by seizing the opportunity for more authentic leadership.