Delivering warmth, not just correctness. The image of a leader in today's era

What kind of image do you have of a leader?

Whether it is a sole proprietorship, freelance work, or a one-person company, regardless of the scale, there are times when you act as a leader.

Sometimes you launch projects as a team, provide services through collaboration, or have opportunities to bring a group together, right?

At those times, someone becomes the leader who brings everything together, but what kind of image of a leader do you envision?

I have been hosting a community for 11 years. Even including cases where I launch projects or form and lead production teams, I have been involved in a 'coordinating role (leader role)' for nearly 20 years.

My peers and seniors sometimes praise me, saying 'You're doing a great job' or 'I couldn't do that.' But I am always feeling my way through, repeating failures and using them as fuel.

Also, having watched the activities of the community branch representatives (leaders), I have had various realizations that I would like to delve into.

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A leader is someone who is strong, relied upon, and keeps running at the front. Once upon a time, that image was spoken of as a matter of course.

A person who works harder than anyone, produces more results than anyone, encourages and reprimands more than anyone, and shows 'correctness' more than anyone.

But for me personally, the attitude of the leader when I participated as a member of a project in 2006 has become the starting point for where I am today.Someone who can show weakness, someone who can listen, someone who can move forward while being lost together.I am who I am today because I was greatly influenced by that side-by-side style of 'leader'.

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From pulling to standing by

The old image of a leader was a 'symbol of strength.' There was also a great expectation that a leader should be correct and perfect.

But it is different now.

• Rather than being perfect,being sincere

• Rather than appearing strong,being able to empathize

• Rather than giving instructions,thinking together

We are in an era where it is 'warmth,' not 'correctness,' that moves people. Of course, it is not as simple as it sounds in words. When there are 5 people, 10 people, or 100 people, the way you deliver and the way you face them inevitably changes.

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Small business owners are the ones who can embody the "new image of a leader"

This is a story that is highly relevant to those who manage their businesses without scaling up, and those who work entirely on their own.

For example,

• in situations where you lead within your relationships with customers

• when creating a culture of mutual support through a "community" rather than a team

• when expressing your thoughts or stance on social media or other platforms

All of these are moments when you are a "leader to someone". That is why there is no need to aim to "stand above others" as in the past.

I have a feeling that "a way of being that is trusted" is more important than that.I don't know if I myself have earned that trust, but the leader I had when I was part of a project definitely had deep trust.

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What is necessary for a leader in today's era?

Even from the perspectives of behavioral economics and psychology, I believe the following four points will be keywords for you as you act as a leader.

• Empathy: An attitude of trying to understand

• Transparency: Sharing information and thoughts openly

• Self-disclosure: A sense of trust that allows you to convey your weaknesses and struggles

• Ability to involve others: An attitude of co-creation rather than pulling others unilaterally

In other words, the key is not "performing strength," but designing connections.

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You can "redefine the image of a leader" to be more like yourself

A leader is not a role that carries something on their back, but someone who builds bridges of trust between people. It does not require being charismatic, nor does it require being better than anyone else.

• Someone who moves forward while struggling and learning together

• Someone who has the courage to listen, accept, and delegate

• Someone who values the process, not just the results

Such leaders will nurture the era to come.

In a time where someone who can think together is more sought after than someone who knows the correct answer.
Your way of being may already be a signpost for someone else.

Thank you for reading until the end!

If you would like, would you connect with me? I look forward to your follow. I am also actively looking to connect with others.