Leading with Their Needs, the Contributors Way.

Do you as a leader and as an organization have a destination that you desire to arrive at?  If so, stop leading with your "wants" and start leading with their "needs."

Need new tools and resources to do your job more effectively? Done!
Need to leave early for that Dr. appointment? Done!
Need a little more autonomy? Done!
Need to feel safe and supported? Done!
Need to be empowered? Done!
Need to step away for a few minutes to clear your head? Done!
Need some direction or guidance? Done!
Need somebody to just listen? Done!
Need to know you are doing a good job? Done!

When you obsess over clearing the path for your team, they’ll naturally want to help you reach the desired destination.

You don't have to demand respect when you've already commanded it through service.

This approach screams servant leadership, the sacrifice of personal needs and wants for the needs, wants of others. In fact, at the heart of it all, a servant leader desires to elevate others thus making the organization better, culture stronger and in a sense his or her leadership life easier, purposeful and much more fulfilling. When others feel validated, heard, and trusted the natural byproduct is a revitalized work ethic, deeper commitment to the company mission, a rise in profits, and an unfeigned loyalty to you as the leader. Who amongst us leaders doesn't want these kinds of results?

In the Master Class course, Leadership and Decision Making Under Pressure by the Navy Seals Foundation, they speak of the servant leaders as somebody who operates with a "contributor mindset." This mindset is noticeable shift away from what can I get, to what can I give! They go deeper, and line out the differences between what they identify as a Consumer Mindset vs. the Contributor Mindset:

A Consumer Mindset looks like this:

• What's in it for me? - Greed rules the roost.
• Creates Scarcity  - Everyone starves.
• Keeps Score - but he or she always "wins" or has the upper hand.
• Protects his/her position - Leads from a position of selfishness and fear.

The Contributor Mindset looks like this:

• What do they need from me? - Sacrifice equates to success.
• Creates Abundance. - Opportunity and energy abound.
• Gives without keeping score - Loosens up and opens the doors of connection.
• Builds through others. - Sees the infinite possibilities in "we."

What type of leader are you, and what type of leader would you like to work with? I believe we all know the answer to the latter. Working with a consumer is mind-numbing, draining and defeating. It sprouts seeds of doubt, engenders frustration and diminishes the purpose of others. Productivity slows and may even halt, and the desire to move the needle for the team and organization feels unbearable and unexciting. A consumer will place barriers in the way and seeks to hold you back in fear that they are not the most powerful and knowledgeable person in the room.

Now flip the leadership coin over. The contributor drives both productivity and accountability. He or she sprouts seeds of creativity and engenders tenets of empowerment. Moving the needle becomes effortless and almost becomes a game to see how quickly individuals and teams can net results and outdo one another. The contributor finds ways to elevate other’s skills as well as creates momentum for growth. A contributor provides a pathway around or through barriers and will often times be standing in the front lowering their shoulder and leading that effort

Much more to unpack on this subject in future.  Now's the time for you to pause and reflect.  What type of leader am I?  What type of leader do I want to become?   Is my leadership style setting the next person up for success? 

To sum it all up - Organizations who plead for innovation, fight for a competitive edge, desire loyal employees, want healthy employees (mentally and physically), who need ethical leaders at the center of the wheel, and hope for longevity in their industry, need to promote and protect the tenets of servant leadership and the contributor mindset.