What should leaders do when an internal initiative fails to gain traction? It's a scenario that many of us have likely encountered or seen. It often revolves around the issue of limited participation, adoption, or engagement within their teams. Leaders may wonder why certain initiatives remain underutilized.
Here’s a very real hypothetical. A very senior executive asks:
“Why are so few people contributing to the internal blog? It’s meant for information sharing across siloes.”
This paradox raises important questions about the role of leaders in promoting such initiatives. Leaders often express their frustration with the lack of widespread participation. They contemplate why this is the case. They issue directives that urge more team members to click, view, like, contribute, and comment. Yet, a curious pattern emerges. In many instances, leaders themselves are not active participants in the very initiatives they advocate for. This poses a challenge: How can we expect others to take an initiative to heart when we as leaders fail to set the example?
To be effective, leaders must lead by example. Leaders ought to show their commitment and involvement in the initiatives they promote. Consider the transformative impact of a leader who posts often on an internal blog. Or one who engages in discussions, commenting and asking questions about existing posts. Such actions exhibit an interest in the initiative. And they also set a powerful precedent for their teams.
The distinction between a leader in title only and a true leader lies in the way they influence and inspire their followers. When you are leader in title only, those who follow you often do so out of necessity. They follow in a way they believe will let them keep their jobs. Sometimes they seek to maintain their political standing within the organization. Yet, when you transcend to the realm of leadership the title, your followers trust you. They believe that you have their best interests at heart, personally and professionally. This is where human potential is unlocked and unleashed.
This road less taken, where we lead by example and authenticity, is the one that will make the difference. It's the path that transforms you from a "leader" to a Leader. When leaders set the example, it augments their their influence and inspiration. It paves the way for others to follow with dedication, enthusiasm, and mutual trust. It's this difference that separates effective leaders from the rest. It's a distinction worth striving for every day.
But a key here is "authenticity". You will NOT be perceived as a leader if your interaction with the blog does not reflect genuine interest and curiosity about the topics. It can be counter productive to try to fake commitment to an initiative (like the internal blog) by actions that don't reflect authentic interest in the topics. If the leader does not have genuine passion for an initiative - maybe its the wrong direction for people to be going?