Origionally Publiched: FBINN Newsletter, Tuesday, March 15, 2022
The Inclusive Leader values the contributions and the success of others. People who practice interpersonal skills by means of strengthening relationships and validating the involvement of others are those individuals operating at a level of mastery in leadership. The Inclusive Leader who assures the inclusion of thoughts, talents and the time of others is viewed as an empowering leader. This practice maintains that others have a voice, they have opportunities to support the team, they can reach their fullest potential and strengthen the organization.
Inclusive Leadership is the tenacious practice of putting others above self. An Inclusive Leader is a person with the foresight to be respectful, nonjudgmental, emotionally intelligent and unbiased. Inclusive leaders are aware of their influence. They’re sensitive to the needs of others, curtailing harmful tone of voice, offensive body language or negative facial expressions.
The Inclusive Leader:
- Rejects all forms of discrimination
- Encourages respect and equal treatment
- Stays engaged, undistracted and fully present
- Builds consensus via teamwork and collaboration
- Intentionally involves others in decision-making
- Values the diversity of ethnic and cultural backgrounds
- Welcomes the ideas of others to fairly shape outcomes
- Understands that fostering positive relationships is critical
- Places values on relationships which build trust and positivity
- Practices humbleness giving others the victory whenever possible
Remember, the mark of mastery in leadership encompasses many merits. Developing, motivating, and supporting people is at the heart of these actions. Modeling positive inclusive behavior in personal relationships and nurturing constructive communication builds cooperative environments that create fortification and resiliency.
The Inclusive Leader focuses on continuous cultivation of relationships, they value partnerships as a key ingredient in the success of themselves, their team, and their organization. Adopting the style of an Inclusive Leader requires emphasis on the stewardship principle of leaving things in better shape than you first found them.
There is really only one thing we can truly claim ownership of in our lives, that is our behaviors and our actions. The legacy remembered of most of us will be what we did for people and with people. Living consciously and acknowledging that our accomplishments are achieved with the help of others is essential for the well-being of those around us and the happiness of ourselves.