I think that 2020 has taught us a lot about leadership. People want a leader that can be connected and in tune with what the needs and wants, not someone who necessarily provides all the things they want, but has an ear to decipher the difference between need and wants.
Our needs are an essential part of our being and are critical to the growth of our person. And our purpose. Our wants may not necessarily enable growth, and it is a leader's job to be able to decipher the needs and the wants of those they lead.
I think 2020 has made it clear that leaders need better listening skills. More specifically, to be able to decipher the needs and the wants as opposed to comparing organizations, teams, methods, etc. to another.
Often, my daughters will tell me: "I want x y z," to which I will respond to them and say, "You should change your term and say, I would like." "I would like x, y, and z." Wanting something many times comes down to having the ability and making it a reality, whereas needing something comes down to the actual part of growth; our wants may not lead to our growth.
If we have the ability or the resource, we'll make what we want to come true. If we have neither, then we can only say: "I would like."
Some people have both resources and ability and therefore make their wants come true, even if it be to the detriment of their growth.
It is the leader's job to decipher when the people speak what it is they want and what it is they need. Having this ability will allow the leader to be able to facilitate an environment where what the people need, comes true.
It's not like when it's your birthday, and you're standing in front of the cake, with the flickering flame of the candle in front of you, everyone around you singing, and they all take a moment to say, "Make a wish!" You inhale deeply, think of a wish, and exhale. Needs aren't wishes. However, many times our wants are a wish. And I often say: "If wishes were fishes, the world would be an ocean."
Truth be told, everyone has wants, and most of those wants aren't aligned with our needs, or our purpose. Yet, needs are aligned with the gross of the person and the accomplishing of their purpose. Therefore, the necessity of good communication skills boils down to being able to listen and decipher when the team speaks, are they talking about their needs, or are they talking about their wants. As 2020 comes to an end, I think the 2021 leader will need this skill to be sharp. And as we know, iron sharpens iron; so surround yourself with people that will nourish your vision.
