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Hello, everyone! Bill Storm here, and today I want to dive into Chapter 3 of John Maxwell's High Road Leadership, titled "Acknowledge Your Humanness." In this chapter, Maxwell emphasizes the power of vulnerability in leadership—something many leaders, especially men, tend to avoid. He explains that leadership isn’t about perfection; it’s about prioritizing connection over infallibility. When leaders embrace their own humanity, they create an environment of trust, innovation, and openness. Let's unpack some key takeaways from this chapter and finish with practical action steps you can implement to elevate your leadership and influence. Key Takeaways 1. Embrace Vulnerability Maxwell argues that vulnerability is critical to leadership, despite the common notion that leaders must always appear strong and unshakable. Leaders who acknowledge their imperfections build authenticity, which in turn fosters trust. This transparency encourages team members to share their ideas and concerns openly. When leaders drop their guard, admit uncertainty, or ask for help, they empower their team to do the same. Vulnerability, far from being a weakness, is a strategic asset. In my experience, I've seen this play out firsthand. I once worked with a sales manager who presented himself as infallible—he believed that showing any weakness would undermine his authority. However, his team struggled to trust him because he hadn’t walked in their shoes. Had he been more vulnerable, perhaps by admitting that he didn't know everything but was willing to learn alongside his team, he could have built trust and ultimately been more effective. Vulnerability in leadership doesn’t mean showing weakness; it means showing strength in humility. 2. Learn from Mistakes Acknowledging your humanness means accepting that mistakes are part of the growth process. Every failure teaches us something valuable. Imagine if Thomas Edison had given up after his first attempt at creating the lightbulb. Mistakes are stepping stones toward success. Leaders who are open about their own errors send a clear message: failure is a learning opportunity, not something to fear. I've instilled this lesson in my children and in the teams I've led. The ability to recover from setbacks and learn from them is what builds resilience. As a leader, it’s essential to model this mindset for your team. Show them that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from them and come back stronger. 3. Build Genuine Connections Leadership is fundamentally about relationships. Acknowledging your humanness allows you to build deeper, more authentic connections with your team. When leaders understand their team members as individuals—each with their own aspirations, challenges, and emotions—they create a culture of mutual respect. One of the best tools I’ve used to build these connections is the DISC personality assessment. Understanding what drives each team member allows me to communicate more effectively and bring out the best in them. The deeper the connection, the stronger the team. 4. Prioritize Empathy Empathy is a crucial element of human-centered leadership. Great leaders understand their team members’ emotions and challenges. When faced with a difficult decision, I try to see the situation from my team’s perspective. This helps me understand their concerns and challenges, and it informs my leadership approach. By practicing empathy, leaders create an environment where team members feel heard and valued. This leads to increased innovation, collaboration, and a more cohesive team dynamic. 5. Lead with Humility Great leaders don’t lead from a pedestal—they lead alongside their teams. Humility allows leaders to acknowledge that they don’t have all the answers and that their success is largely due to the contributions of the entire team. As leaders, we must appreciate our team’s efforts and recognize that leadership is a shared journey. Personally, I’ve found that humility fosters loyalty and respect. When your team knows you’re willing to roll up your sleeves and work alongside them, they’re far more likely to follow you, not just because they have to, but because they want to. Action Steps for Leaders Here are five actionable steps you can take today to implement these principles and strengthen your leadership: 1. Model Vulnerability in Conversations Start by sharing instances where you’ve faced challenges or made mistakes, and explain how you overcame them. This openness will encourage your team to be vulnerable as well, creating a culture where learning from mistakes is the norm. 2. Create a Learning Culture Encourage your team to view mistakes as opportunities for growth. Ask them regularly, “What did you love about this project? What did you learn?” This question fosters reflection and continuous improvement, both personally and professionally. 3. Build Personal Connections Take time to get to know your team members on a deeper level. While maintaining professional boundaries is important, understanding their goals, strengths, and challenges will help you support them more effectively. 4. Practice Empathy in Decision-Making Before making decisions that impact your team, consider how they might feel both personally and professionally. Invite feedback from your team to ensure all perspectives are considered, creating a more inclusive decision-making process. 5. Show Gratitude Regularly acknowledge your team’s contributions. Each member brings unique strengths to the table, and recognizing their efforts reinforces the value of teamwork and collective success. In summary, Chapter 3 of High Road Leadership challenges us to embrace our humanness and lead with vulnerability, empathy, and humility. By doing so, we create a culture of trust, openness, and growth—one that empowers our teams to innovate, collaborate, and excel. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to learn more about these leadership principles or explore how I can help your team grow through leadership workshops or coaching. I’m passionate about helping leaders and teams perform at their highest level. Bill Storm PS. If you like today's message, here are several ways I can help you grow faster…
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