One of the topics I discuss in my upcoming book under self-leadership is the idea of leadership congruence.
In other words, are we who we say we are?
We may think we are a certain way, but how do we actually show up? And is that in alignment with the person we are and aspire to be?
For example, I work out 6 days per week and others might perceive me as fairly healthy, but I struggle with eating well. I often lack self-control to make the right choices, or to exercise intentionality with what I eat. In fact, it’s a constant struggle. Because I’m not perfect in any regard, I work on becoming more congruent everyday. It will be easier, of course, once I stop buying snacks for my kids who are waiting to return to school.
Congruence between values and behavior is a vital but often overlooked aspect of leadership – and it’s what differentiates the most successful leaders with the most engaged teams.
When you are congruent, your beliefs and your actions are in complete harmony.
So, how do we become more congruent? Here are a few things to consider:
1. Practice mindful self-awareness
Practicing mindful self-awareness gives you the ability to examine your thoughts and reflect on your actions at the end of each day. By asking yourself how aligned you were with who you believe yourself to be, you can assess how congruent you were, and where you could do better tomorrow.
2. Do a congruency audit
Ask your employees, friends or family – and whoever else you feel most comfortable with – to give you some honest feedback. Have them describe you in three words and notice which words come up most often. That will help you decipher whether you’re portraying who you believe yourself to be.
3. Notice how you lead
Have you ever asked your employees or team to “do as I say, not as I do”? If you want to be a leader who inspires loyalty, employee satisfaction, and team cohesion, consider how you can better align your words with your actions. For example, if you regularly leave the office early to play golf or get home before rush-hour traffic, consider whether you would allow your team to do the same.
As you bring more noticing to the ways in which you lead, allow your values to guide you as you begin to practice congruent leadership each and every day.
