That’s What Leaders Do: Eight Essential Lessons for Effective Leadership

Welcome to our blog post inspired by a unique compilation of leadership lessons from Brian Schubring, the founder of Leadership Vision Consulting. In today’s article, Nathan Freeburg takes us through eight fundamental principles of leadership, offering insights meant to inspire and challenge leaders to reflect on their own practices.

Introduction

You are about to dive into essential learnings from “That’s What Leaders Do,” a series shared in various podcast episodes over the last few years. These insights, drawn from Brian Schubring’s 35+ years of experience with leaders, aim to provide you with nuggets of wisdom that have shaped some of the best leaders. Here are eight lessons curated to inspire, challenge, and encourage introspection in your leadership journey.

1. Leaders Care

Genuine Care as a Foundation

In our first leadership insight, Brian highlights the profound impact of genuine care in effective leadership. Leaders who truly stand out are those who care deeply—for themselves, for others, for their environment, and for the causes they believe in. This authentic care is a defining characteristic that draws others to them, creating more opportunities to lead with compassion and purpose. For these leaders, caring is not just an action but an integral part of who they are.

Takeaway: Cultivate genuine care as a leader. Make it a priority to care for yourself, your relationships, and your environment. This authentic care will naturally attract others to you and enhance your ability to lead with compassion.

2. Leaders Keep Moving

The Importance of Momentum

Brian explores how the best leaders use the concept of movement in leadership. Influential leaders know how to keep moving, whether through visible actions or internal processes like reflecting on their thoughts, emotions, and intuition. Movement for leaders involves perseverance, pacing, and paying attention to their surroundings. Sometimes, movement means pausing to reflect before taking the next step. Ultimately, leaders keep moving by practicing what works, continually refining their skills, and adapting to new challenges.

Takeaway: Embrace the practice of continual movement as a leader. Whether through action or reflection, keep progressing by persevering through challenges, pacing yourself, and consistently practicing what helps you grow and lead effectively.

3. Leaders Change Perspective

Embracing Broader Viewpoints

Leaders can greatly benefit from changing their perspectives from time to time. They often realize that their viewpoint is unique, but under pressure, it can narrow. To navigate complex problems effectively, leaders need to seek input from others to broaden their perspective. Doing so, they stay open to learning, increase their curiosity, and make better decisions. Recognizing the limitations of their own perspective is key to growth and effective leadership.

Takeaway: As a leader, actively seek out other viewpoints to broaden your perspective. Regularly ask others for their insights, especially in challenging situations, to enhance your decision-making and keep your mind open to new possibilities.

4. Leaders Focus on Themselves

The Value of Self-care and Reflection

Brian here emphasizes the importance of self-care and personal development through mindful self-questioning. He suggests that one of the best ways to invest in ourselves is by taking the time to ask and answer meaningful questions without external influence. This practice allows us to reflect on what truly matters, anchoring us in the present and deepening our understanding of ourselves. By nurturing our inner selves, we create the foundation to extend our care and compassion to others.

Takeaway: Make time for self-reflection. Regularly ask yourself meaningful questions, listen to your responses, and use this practice to ground yourself and grow as a leader. This will enable you to better care for those around you.

5. Leaders Have Emotional Capacity

Awareness and Sensitivity

In this leadership insight, Brian highlights the significance of emotional capacity in effective leadership. Leaders who make a difference in people’s lives and organizations possess emotional awareness, sensitivity, and a rich emotional vocabulary. They understand and navigate their own emotions and those of others, creating a more empathetic and connected environment. This emotional capacity enables leaders to respond thoughtfully and compassionately to the needs of their teams.

Takeaway: Develop your emotional capacity as a leader. Work on becoming more aware of your own emotions and those of the people around you. This awareness will help you connect with your team on a deeper level and lead more effectively.

6. Leaders Get It Wrong

Learning from Mistakes

Great leaders often get things wrong, yet they believe they’re getting it right most of the time. This tension is a natural part of leadership. The most impactful leaders recognize the importance of giving themselves—and their teams—the freedom to fail. By embracing mistakes, they create an environment where innovation and growth are encouraged. These leaders aren’t afraid to set bold visions and goals, even knowing that not all will be achieved. They adapt, change, and navigate through failures, continuing to move forward.

Takeaway: As a leader, embrace the possibility of getting it wrong. Allow yourself and your team the freedom to fail, knowing that it’s a crucial part of growth and innovation.

7. Leaders Take Small Steps

Breaking Down Big Visions

Exceptional leaders understand the importance of breaking down grand visions into small, manageable, actionable steps. While leaders are often expected to cast vision and inspire during challenging times, the extraordinary ones ensure that everyone can contribute meaningfully by simplifying the path forward. This approach motivates individuals and creates a sense of involvement in something greater.

Takeaway: As a leader, take a big goal or vision and break it down into smaller, manageable steps. Ensure each step allows for individual contributions, making the larger goal more attainable and inclusive for your team.

8. Leaders Name Their Needs

Sustaining Effectiveness

In this leadership lesson, Brian emphasizes the critical but often overlooked importance of leaders identifying and addressing their personal needs. He explains that while leaders are typically focused on the needs of others, neglecting their own fundamental needs can lead to burnout and decreased effectiveness. Brian highlights that true leadership involves recognizing and fulfilling basic human needs, not just professional goals or ambitions.

Takeaway: Reflect on your own needs as a leader. Identify one small, essential need that, when met daily, helps you maintain your energy and effectiveness. Make it a priority to address this need consistently.

Action Items and Takeaways

These eight lessons are designed to provide actionable insights that can be incorporated into your daily leadership practices. We hope they have sparked a reflection or inspired you to consider how you can apply these principles to your leadership journey.

For You:

• Reflect on Care: How do you care for your team, environment, and yourself?
• Maintain Momentum: Find ways to keep moving, both externally and internally.
• Broaden Perspectives: Seek input from others to enrich your viewpoint.
• Practice Self-care: Dedicate time for personal reflection and self-care.
• Expand Emotional Capacity: Work on becoming emotionally aware and sensitive.
• Embrace Mistakes: Learn and grow from your errors.
• Take Small Steps: Break down your big visions into manageable actions.
• Identify Needs: Regularly assess and address your personal needs.

Thank you for joining us on this journey through these leadership nuggets. If you’d like to hear more, please email us at connect@leadershipvisionconsulting.com or leave a comment on social media or our blog. We look forward to helping your team build a positive culture and grow in your leadership strengths.