The One Thing to Do to Be a Great Leader

Throughout my career I’ve had an opportunity to work with a lot of different leaders—some good, some bad, and some in between.  In studying leadership, there is one ability that stands out to me that often defines a great leader.  This ability is the gift to create a safe haven for others. 

Though it may seem strange, leaders who make others feel safe truly get “buy-in” from those that follow them which leads to the best possible results.  When people feel safe, they are willing to take risks, act on their own, and take full responsibility and ownership for their results.  In a safe environment people are able to produce at their highest levels—no longer living in fear of repercussions or what may come.  And when people feel safe not only are they able to make an optimal contribution, they also usually want to. 

A perhaps more traditional thought is that leaders want their followers to have a certain amount of uncertainty and fear when they are around.  The thought is that this fear translates to respect and admiration for the leader but in most circumstances, this could not be further from the truth.  When people fear their leader, they often work and produce out of fear rather than respect, admiration, and even love which nearly always leads to less than great results.    

So how does a leader create a safe haven?  First they do it by protecting their people.  They “save them” from negative experiences such as ineffective backlash, negative attitudes or comments, or unneeded speculations, and rumors from outsiders that only produce anxiety and stress.  They do it by taking full responsibility and blame for the results of the team when they are poor, even doing so for an individual team member when necessary.  And when results are good, they give credit to the team taking no recognition for themselves. A leader who openly and willingly does this, can earn the trust of his team for a lifetime.

Second, the leader sacrifices for others often saying the person would have done the same for them.  When a leader sacrifices for others, and puts his own personal well-being, interest, time, etc. aside for the benefit of another, he produces a safe haven.  An example would be taking the biggest pay cut or loss of benefits in times of crisis rather than the opposite happening which is usually the case…  Willingly sacrificing for the good of the whole endears people to their leader. 

Finally, leaders can create a safe haven when they are vulnerable.  A vulnerable leader is one who is open and willing to admit their faults and mistakes and takes ownership for them.  A leader who admits they are less than perfect and that they in fact do not “know it all”, builds trust and encourages others to take ownership and admit their own mistakes as well.  Vulnerability builds comradery and creates the necessary safe haven needed for a strong, cohesive team.                 

So you want to be a great leader?  If so, build a safe haven.  I’m confident that doing so will make you a unique and extraordinary leader.