Vision trumps all of our other senses. Research indicates that about 75% of our learning happens through our vision. According to Discovery Magazine, “In the brain itself, neurons devoted to visual processing number in the hundreds of millions and take up about 30% of the cortex, as compared to just 3% for hearing.”
So it’s logical that employees want to “see” their leaders doing the right things. The old adages – ‘actions speak louder than words’ and ‘walk the talk’ are all too often expressed by many frustrated and disengaged employees about their leaders today.
So here’s the bottom line question – are your leaders living illustrations? Do employees learn the desired behaviors of your organization from watching their leaders? Here are eight critical factors where seeing can truly create believing.
When employees at work don’t know what to do, what to think, or what to say – do leaders provide a living illustration? In high performance organizations leaders do – because we remember images and we forget words!
So it’s logical that employees want to “see” their leaders doing the right things. The old adages – ‘actions speak louder than words’ and ‘walk the talk’ are all too often expressed by many frustrated and disengaged employees about their leaders today.
So here’s the bottom line question – are your leaders living illustrations? Do employees learn the desired behaviors of your organization from watching their leaders? Here are eight critical factors where seeing can truly create believing.
- Accountability. Do they (employees) see leaders taking ownership of issues & problems and not blaming someone else?
- Change. Do they see leaders as active players making the required change or just spectators who watch and critique?
- Communication. Do they see leaders effectively asking questions, listening, generating understanding and not just talking, telling, and tuning-out?
- Handling differences of opinion. Do they see leaders finding common ground or only staking out their personal claims?
- Priorities. Do they see leaders respectfully saying no or not now, versus just adding more to the list of things to do?
- Respect. Do they see leaders giving it, in order to get it or just feeling entitled to it?
- Sacrifice. Do they see leaders going first, when sacrifices need to be made, or routinely being treated as an exception?
- Work/Life Harmony. Do they see leaders disconnecting from work and not staying electronically connected 24/7?
When employees at work don’t know what to do, what to think, or what to say – do leaders provide a living illustration? In high performance organizations leaders do – because we remember images and we forget words!
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