Thoughtfulness is the intersection of deep reflection and broad concern for others. – Adam Grant
My newest book, Becoming a More Thoughtful Leader, was never intended to be the defining gold standard for how leaders can be the masters of thoughtfulness in their daily work. It is not a novel that tells a story filled with heroes and heroines and it is not the last book you will ever need to read about leadership. This book was simply written through my passion for reflection and thoughtfulness in a way I hope will inspire the same passion in you. It challenges you from the very beginning to thoughtfully invest in yourself and also invest in those around you. It was written to be a catalyst for pursuing a deeper journey as a thoughtful leader, not the book you read at the end of the journey.
I suspect you are already a good leader at this moment in time or you are on the road to becoming one. But, have you considered the merits of thoughtful leadership? In the broad spectrum of leadership, thoughtful leaders stand out like beacons of self-awareness, empathy, compassion and wisdom. They not only lead their troops in the daily battles of the work world, but make sure their team members and colleagues are seen, heard, valued and invested in. They actively practice Ti voglio bene (tee vo-lyo beh-ne) which is Italian for “I want your good”.
What are some of the traits of a thoughtful leader?
- They practice self-reflection and value candid feedback. Thoughtful leaders are willing to look in the mirror, carefully consider their past actions/behaviors and are always willing to learn and grow. They seek candid feedback from team members, peers and other work colleagues without defensiveness and are willing to make necessary changes.
- They are great at active listening. They don’t just wait for their turn to speak, but are sincerely interested in what you have to say. They ask great follow up questions and follow up on what they have heard. They make it safe to be open and transparent.
- They are empathetic and caring. They embody Ti voglio bene thinking and care about others and always strive to seek their good. They can listen without judgment and seek to understand the other person’s perspective, emotions, concerns and needs.
- They enthusiastically embrace the roles of coach, mentor and guide. The 2nd of the two challenges I alluded to in the first paragraph was to invest in others. Thoughtful leaders are consistently willing, and even eager, to help those around them grow. They are both seeking to learn/grow themselves and pass along these learnings to their colleagues. They are also willing to be vulnerable and share their own struggles and failures as teachable moments.
- They “walk the talk”. Thoughtful leaders lead by example. They are authentic and truly believe in what they are sharing with others and asking them to do. Their leadership consistently embodies the behaviors, values and pursuit of excellence they wish to see from their team members and colleagues.
It is somewhat easy to be a thought leader…loosely defined as being an expert at something. It is more of a challenge to be a thoughtful leader and care not only for your own development, but also for those you lead. Further developing the traits above and embracing the learnings from my newest book will absolutely help you on the path to being a more thoughtful leader.
I would like to share one more insight with you. As you have likely gleaned from my past writings, I have a great fondness for walking. Much of my writing over the years (and certainly this new book) began with deep thinking that likely had its origin on walking trails near my home or during family vacations. I believe this practice has activated and enhanced my own thoughtfulness and helped me grow in countess other ways. I would like to introduce you to one of my favorite phrases: solvitur ambulando (Latin for “solved by walking”).
The concept goes back to the ancient Greeks philosophizing over the certainty of motion. Thousands of years ago, the philosopher Zeno posed the problem of whether or not motion was real, and his colleague Diogenes got up and walked out of the room. Offended by Diogenes’ rude exit, Zeno asked what he was doing, and Diogenes responded by saying he had just proved that motion was real…”solved by walking”. Centuries later, St. Augustine of Hippo coined the expression into its Latin phrasing inferring that theological issues of the heart, soul, and mind are better “solved by walking” instead of just talking about them.
I love to indulge my great passion for taking long walks every day. I do it for exercise, to disconnect from technology/media, clear my head, reflect, and to pray. There are many other challenges for which walking is a helpful part of the solution. In our culture of overwork, burnout, and high stress, in which we’re over-connected and distracted from most things that are truly important in our lives, how do we tap into our creativity, deeper thinking, our capacity for wonder, our well-being and our ability to carefully consider how to better engage with and help our fellow humans? I have identified walking as a fundamental catalyst for my own pursuit of greater thoughtfulness and I hope you have something equally as helpful in your own life. If you are seeking ideas to jump start greater thoughtfulness in your own life, I hope you consider the wisdom of solvitur ambulando as a possible answer.
I encourage you to take up the challenge of becoming a more thoughtful leader. More intentionally invest in yourself and those around you. Embrace the clarity of author Adam Grant’s quote: “Thoughtfulness is the intersection of deep reflection and broad concern for others.” The world needs more leaders like this and I hope you will get started today.
Good luck on your journey!
*Adapted from Becoming a More Thoughtful Leader
