My Top 10 Leadership Insights Of 2020

No matter where you live on this pale blue dot, one thing we all share in common is the sentiment of seeing the start of a new year as a new beginning. As an opportunity to begin anew and set goals that will help us do better over the next 12 months.

For myself, the start of a new year has also become an opportunity to reflect and review on the past year, of what went well, what didn’t go as planned or expected, and what new insights I gained that I can benefit from moving forward.

Part of this reflection exercise includes looking back at my writings over the past 12 months to see what resonated most with my readers, what topics or issues were the most read and shared, and what themes or ideas this might reveal that are worth exploring going forward.

With this in mind, here are my Top 10 leadership insights of 2020 as chosen by you, the readers of my leadership blog. I’ve been putting these together for the past 8 years now and it’s always interesting to see what themes arise. And certainly for 2020, this piece also serves as a snapshot of time when we consider which insights rose to the top of this year’s list.

Leadership Insight #10 – As much as we need to know that our work matters, we also need to feel like we belong. That we are a part of something that’s bigger than ourselves. [Share on Twitter]

“Show them you hear and understand the realities they’re facing. Of the joys and frustrations that come from working from home. And share your own frustrations and joyful moments. After all, what better way is there for us to feel like we are all in this together than to remind people of the things we share in common, especially when you have to inspire people to embrace the changes you want to put forth.”

Read more on this leadership insight here: 3 Lessons On How Promoting Sense Of Belonging Can Drive Change

Leadership Insight #9 – It’s a leader’s job to help their employees grow into shining stars in their organization. [Share on Twitter]

“If you’re like me, you’ve probably had your share of horrible to mediocre bosses and if you’re lucky, you’ve also had a few bosses who truly exemplified what it means to be a leader. And maybe luckier still, that working for these bosses not only allowed you to do some of your best work, but also helped you learned a little bit about yourself and where your real purpose lies.

I can honestly say I’ve had the good fortune of working for two such leaders and although it’s been many, many years since the time I work under their leadership, their example and the lessons they taught me about leadership and how I can make a difference still echo and influence the work I do today.”

Read more on this leadership insight here: A Personal Lesson On How Leaders Can Help Their Employees To Succeed And Grow

Leadership Insight #8 – It’s not how much you speak to your employees, it’s what you’re telling them when you speak that matters. [Share on Twitter]

“When I was invited to join a handful of online writers who would be sent an advance reading copy of Tony’s book, I was just starting out in the leadership sphere, trying to determine what unique perspectives and insights I could share. As such, just being a part of Tony’s book launch team was a big deal.

But when I got this email from Tony, I realized that it was also a big deal for him that so many people he didn’t even know wanted to help extend the reach of his book and its ideas. Tony’s message of gratitude demonstrated how humble he was and how the best leaders recognize that everyone has something meaningful to contribute no matter how small their sphere of influence.”

Read more on this leadership insight here: 3 Leadership Lessons I Personally Learned From Tony Hsieh

Leadership Insight #7 – Working remotely requires leaders to ensure even greater clarity over what they’re communicating to their employees, as well as making sure employees feel heard and understood. [Share on Twitter]

“Even if we weren’t all personally dealing with feelings of uncertainty and stress over the long term impacts of the current health pandemic, working remotely can be challenging for your employees in terms of getting that much needed feedback that lets them know they’re not only doing a good job, but that someone’s paying attention to their efforts and appreciates how they’re helping the organization move forward despite all the restrictions we currently have to navigate.

To that end, it’s important that you make time during these virtual gatherings to make a point of recognizing the various contributions and efforts being made by your employees. This will help your employees understand the benefits others derive from their efforts and how it’s helping the team move forward. It will also reduce feelings of isolation because it will foster those emotional connections of community and belonging.”

Read more on this leadership insight here: How Leaders Can Improve Virtual Team Communication In 5 Simple Steps

Leadership Insight #6 – One of the critical roles for today’s leader is to communicate and exemplify an idea or purpose that unites people to dedicate their best efforts to make that vision a reality. [Share on Twitter]

“The truth is this growing tendency to narrow our perspective in terms of who we share a sense of alignment and belonging with is something leaders in all industries should be paying attention to. After all, most of us are familiar with the ease with which organizational silos can take hold within our workplaces, where teams and departments avoid sharing information and resources, mirroring that very us vs. them mindset mentioned above.

So with this growing tendency for people to self-select who belongs in their in-group and who doesn’t, it’s important for leaders to ensure what their communicating and demonstrating through their leadership evokes collaboration instead of conflict, especially as many of us continue to work remotely and consequently are relying on virtual communication channels to stay connected and invested.”

Read more on this leadership insight here: Does Your Leadership Inspire Collaboration Or Conflict Inside Your Organization?

Leadership Insight #5 – Each of us has the potential to be exceptional. To take on challenges that push us beyond our comfort zone in order to explore our own version of what if and what could be. [Share on Twitter]

“And given all the problems we’re witnessing right now – not just in terms of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also in terms of environmental disasters and growing social divisions in various countries – what your employees need more than ever is reconnecting with their why. Of why their efforts matter and how their contributions are making a difference.

By reframing how you view challenges, you can move past that tendency to play it safe with those doable challenges and focus more on those stretch challenges to ensure your organization doesn’t simply survive this global pandemic, but comes out stronger in the end.”

Read more on this leadership insight here: A Simple Strategy To Help Reframe How You Deal With Challenges

Leadership Insight #4 – What leaders need to communicate is not only an understanding of their employees’ realities, but a willingness to provide them with what they need to succeed because they care. [Share on Twitter]

There’s a saying that people love to share on social media, a saying that is often attributed to Maya Angelou – “People won’t remember what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel.”

And this is exactly what this question taps into. It tells your employees – ‘I don’t want you to simply do your work. I want you to do your best work. But for that to happen, I need to make sure I’m providing you with what you need to do just that.’

Read more on this leadership insight here: Ask This Simple Question To Improve Clarity And Boost Employee Performance

Leadership Insight #3 – The kind of challenges we agree to take on often determines how much we’re able to change and adapt and with it, how much we can learn and grow. [Share on Twitter]

“If there’s one thing our current global reality is forcing all of us to do it’s to make that choice – of either closing in on ourselves and attempting to stick to what we know and how we might grow within those self-imposed constraints. Or learning to embrace this pressure to change and adapt our outlook and the way we’ve been operating so that we might lean forward into that realm of possibility.

Read more on this leadership insight here: What Growing An Orchid Taught Me About How To Successfully Change And Adapt

Leadership Insight #2 – Our ability to think critically is like a lighthouse shining a light through the fog of uncertainty COVID-19 has created, helping us find our way to safety and better times. [Share on Twitter]

“As much as we’d all like to know when this global pandemic will finally end and we can return to some new form of normalcy that doesn’t require social distancing measures, the simple truth is that no one at this point knows for certain how long we’ll have to be at this or when we’ll finally beat this virus once and for all.

And there’s little doubt that now is the time when we need leaders in all areas of society – both within the public and private realms – to not only be that voice of reassurance that we will collectively find a way through the storm and reach that safe harbour, but who will help us transform the way we work and live so as to improve the opportunities and experiences had by all under their care.”

Read more on this leadership insight here: 3 Steps To Boost Your Critical Thinking Skills During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Leadership Insight #1 – The fundamental key to addressing a crisis is for leaders to not only be honest about the situation and what you’re going to do about it, but that you do so with clarity, humility and heart so as to remind people we’re in this together. [Share on Twitter]

“It should be abundantly clear to leaders – both in the public and private sectors – that when a crisis hits, your every word and your every action will be under even greater scrutiny, as it should be. After all, the ability of an organization, a city, a province/state, or country to overcome a crisis like the current COVID-19 pandemic rests squarely on your shoulders.

The responsibility is most definitely yours to not only address, but to find a suitable and appropriate way to resolve the crisis in a way that doesn’t inflame or provoke more issues or problems either now or in the future.”

Read more on this leadership insight here: 3 Important Lessons On Crisis Management From The COVID-19 Pandemic