You build a case for your leadership by providing your followers with these four things.
• Community: Humans are hardwired for sociability. They also desire solidar- ity. As a result, followers long for a sense of belonging and want to feel part of something bigger. Help them connect to others (not just to you) as well as to the overarching purpose of your organization. Are you helping them answer the questions “Why are we here?” and “What are we part of?”
• Authenticity: Followers choose to be led by humans not titles, credentials or manufactured management clones. Identify and deploy your personal dif- ferences, foibles and strengths to remind people you’re human—and to inspire them to apply their energy and talents to help you. Who are you and where do you come from? What is dif- ferent about you that will rouse others to follow?
• Significance: Followers want to believe their efforts matter. Recognize their role and contributions in a mean- ingful way, with highly personalized feedback. When was the last time you paid attention to the recognition needs of those you wish to lead? How can you ennoble their efforts? How specif- ic is the recognition you provide?
• Excitement: Followers need to be inspired to higher levels of effort and achievement. Articulate your personal passion, values and vision to provide the energy and enthusiasm employees hunger for. Are you actually in touch with your own values and motivators? A dead battery cannot spark another. And how can you display an edgy intensity at times to raise the bar on performance?
– Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones
