Leadership is about empowering people, not a hierarchy of people. Leaders incorporate ownership, purpose, and collaboration into their structures and behaviors. Doing so not only strengthens the organization, but the leader as well. The best leaders know themselves well and the components of effective leadership.

Listening is directly correlated with empathy. The best listeners attempt to understand the perspective and needs of others. This doesn’t mean conceding. Listening to others builds a diverse perspective in order to make an informed and optimal decision. Listening to others can also develop a supportive culture where individuals are valued, supported, and engaged, ultimately leading to a happier and more productive work environment.

The best organizations have a culture of learning - learning about self, others, and content. Learning goes beyond content knowledge and should incorporate thinking and metacognition. Learning how you and others think and reflect are closely tied to listening. Having a growth mindset, where individuals are empowered by gaining new knowledge rather than feel vulnerable for not already knowing it, keeps the organization moving forward.

Successful organizations leverage the strengths of people and build skills to foster the most growth. These components build upon the strengths of the people, build culture, and grow the organization in order to maximize outcome.