By Alaina Hansom
Think of a leader you
admire. Perhaps that person is a current leader in your workplace or a previous
leader in your chain of command. Now, think about why you admire that
leader.
Total Force Fitness
Maybe your admired
leader excels in multiple areas of Total Force Fitness. For example, in addition to their strong
leadership skills (social fitness), you might admire
their ability to stay calm under stress (mental
fitness), their muscular endurance (physical fitness),
or their meaningful purpose (spiritual fitness).
Interpersonal leadership
It’s quite likely you
admire this leader because of their interpersonal
leadership skills and ability to develop relationships among teammates. In fact, there has been an increased
demand for relationship skills in military leadership. In crisis or stressful
situations, there are benefits to having emotional connections with
your leader. For example, a leader who’s “in the trenches” with you—one who
wouldn’t ask you to do anything they wouldn’t do themselves—can improve morale
and enhance commitment. Also, an interpersonal relationship with your leader affects
how satisfied you are with your job and how you perceive their effectiveness.
Leaders with
interpersonal leadership skills are able to build teams
that perform at their peak. They do this by getting to know their people
personally, usually during on-the-job conversations. For example, one of my
husband’s favorite leaders from his shore tour put in the effort to know each
member of the team. He always remembered their spouse’s, children’s, and pets’
names, which made every teammate feel special and valued.
Interpersonal
leadership skills also show that a leader cares about their people, which builds
team trust. Feeling that your leader genuinely cares about you—whether
they recommend resources, plan social events outside the workplace, or ask
questions to get to know you better—can make you feel more committed to the
team. One of my husband’s favorite leaders from his fleet tour encouraged him
to take a few days to fly across the country to visit his dad in the hospital.
The leader remembered similar advice he’d received when his dad had been in the
hospital, and that left an impact on him, even years later. Like a small pebble
sending ripples out into a lake, what seems like a small interpersonal gesture
can truly make a big impact, spreading love, kindness, and support.
Express gratitude
I encourage you to thank
a leader you admire! Send them a note or a text message, or give them a call.
Pop into their office on a rainy afternoon. Thank them for being a good leader
and for the impact they have had on your career. Tell them what you learned
from them, and express
gratitude for their positive interpersonal leadership skills. I’m
sure they’ll be happy to hear from you!
You can learn more about Total Force Fitness—including social, mental, physical, and spiritual fitness—on HPRC’s website.
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Disclosure: The opinions and assertions expressed herein are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of USU or DoD. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc. Mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. The authors have no financial interests or relationships to disclose.
