This week Nichole shares an episode where she was a guest on The Thinking Project Podcast, hosted by Dalton Jensen. 

Key Takeaways:

1. Common Leadership Pitfalls:

   • A good boss avoids deflecting blame and takes ownership of team success.
   • They actively engage in one-on-one meetings and recognize their importance for team growth.
   • Avoid making quick assumptions and judgments about team members. Encourage diverse opinions.

2. Promoting High Performers:

   • Promoting the highest-performing employees is not always the best decision. They might lack people management skills.
   • Being an excellent individual contributor does not guarantee leadership potential. Leadership requires caring about others' success.

3. Being Authentic as a Leader:

   • Leaders should avoid pretending to be someone they're not in pursuit of success.
   • It's essential to be your authentic self while still refining your leadership skills to adapt to your environment.

4. Importance of Soft Skills:

   • Developing soft skills is crucial for successful leadership. Start with self-awareness to understand your impact on others.
   • Building individual relationships and caring about team members' lives outside of work fosters trust and psychological safety.

5. The Value of Empathy:

   • Empathy is a key element of great leadership. It involves genuinely caring about your team members' success and well-being.
   • Leaders should strive to understand their team's challenges and actively support them.

Challenging Work Environments:

• It's vital for leaders to acknowledge that the environment can sometimes restrict open communication and empathy.
• Organizations should encourage leadership that promotes caring and connection within teams, even outside of the workplace.