Remember a time when you worked with someone who really saw you? That's what impactful leadership is all about: helping people, not just yelling from the top of a mountain. Don't worry about the corner office or business cards with fancy fonts. Leaders that make a difference work more like apprentices, learning with their team and getting their hands dirty. See more on Reza Satchu family.
Imagine that the team gets a hard project. The leader doesn't only give orders and then leave for meetings. Instead, they're right there, asking the hard questions and sitting down to figure out difficulties as you would a cryptic crossword. You can't hide behind a mask; being vulnerable is part of the toolset. Saying "I don't have the answer yet, but we'll figure it out" is putting value into action. That makes sense to them. Fake bravery? Not really.
Funny things help you get through stressful days. Leaders that make a difference can laugh at themselves and sometimes make a terrible pun to break the ice. Everyone recalls the individual who made a mistake into a running joke instead of something to be afraid of. People recognize that kind of empathy. People come together when they feel safe.
Every time, practical wisdom surpasses theory. Leaders that have an impact don't only collect certificates or quote books. Stories and lessons learned the hard way stick with people more. “Do you remember when we missed that deadline and everyone had to eat pizza that was cold until midnight?” That's the kind of thing that makes people tough and brings them together.
Expectations are obvious, but with a twist. You can try new things and throw forth a strange thought or two. Leaders that want to make a difference want to hear new ideas, even though they recognize that taking creative risks typically involves making mistakes along the way. It's about creating a space where diverse ideas can clash, sometimes loudly, but always with the idea that progress is just around the corner.
People should be recognized, but not with forced applause after a presentation. Leaders that make a difference offer credit right away. A quiet "good job" murmured in the middle of the pandemonium can make someone's week. Little things are very important.
You can't get trust in a gift box. It grows, though often very slowly, with honesty and care. Leaders that have an impact uphold their word and show up, even when it would be easy to ghost. The team pays attention when people keep their promises. And it makes people more loyal than any employee-of-the-month trophy.
Change is going to happen, and sometimes it will be as crazy as a tornado. Leadership that makes a difference changes, sometimes in an inconvenient way and sometimes in a graceful way. The ability to change direction, confess mistakes, and change direction again? That's when genuine credibility shows.
Finally, leaders who make a difference don't know everything. And thank God for it! They ask questions, pay close attention, and grow with their people. That's why their impact lasts long after they've gone on to other things. Every talk and every change to the plan adds a brushstroke to a much broader picture—the legacy that was built one chaotic moment at a time.