Great Leaders Are Accessible

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As companies become larger, the assumption is that great leaders just can’t be accessible anymore. There’s too much to do in the day, not enough people, everyone is overworked and time just isn’t available. And yes, that includes CEOs and other heads of companies. Have you ever met great leaders that aren’t accessible? There are a lot of them out there. Maybe you happen to be one of them. The main flaw that appears when leaders are not accessible is that they just cannot be as affective when people are not able to reach them. Coaching your team is a huge priority and responsibility, whether you do it yourself or you train others to take care of it, you have to still be accessible either way.

So leaders, here are four ways to defend your time and your sanity:

1. Make room for your top 20%.

I know you have heard this saying before, but take it seriously. Be intentional about meeting with your top people and invest in their lives more often than you are right now. Everyone will benefit from this one relationship tweak.

2. Encourage ownership from others.

Do not hoard knowledge, but freely give it away. When ownership is carried by others besides yourself, it frees you up to see your company from 20,000 feet rather than 20 feet. This frees up more of your valuable time and allows you to bring more to your team without affecting other areas of your life negatively.

3. Pour into yourself and then into others.

Don’t expect to be able to lead others without having anything to pour out into others. Fill yourself up first and be a mentor to others instead of just a boss. The difference between the two is the way you approach guidance. As a boss you are just interested in your business. But, a mentor is worried about the individual. Notice the difference because it is a big one.

4. Know who you are.

You have to understand what your strengths are in order to be able to help others in life. Take time to think about where you are at in life, what you excel in, but also what you need guidance and renewed focus in. It will change your perspective and also motivate those around you. This will help you pinpoint other’s strengths as well.

 

What these points do collectively is encourage and build up those around you. When people around you are focused and pursuing big things, it makes the culture one of excellence. I don’t know about you, but being in this kind of culture makes me a better person. It makes me be at my best and propels me forward in life. And to create this kind of culture, great leaders have to be accessible. If others need you, as a leader you or your leadership team needs to be available.

How are you making yourself more accessible to coach others? You can leave your comment below.