Overview: Seeing the world through the eyes of others and considering other viewpoints is a leadership skill that requires a high level of emotional intelligence and self-awareness. Leaders who consider alternative perspectives make better decisions and create stronger cultures. Leadership coaching can boost leaders’ self-awareness by challenging assumptions, offering guidance, and providing accountability.
From a communication standpoint, a leader’s mission is double. Through self-awareness and emotional intelligence, intelligent leaders can perceive life through the eyes of others. The ability to see the perspective of someone else lends leaders the power to help others see through their eyes.
These two essential leadership abilities are inextricably intertwined. Leadership coaching recognizes the significance of this bond and helps leaders develop and maintain it.
“When we stop seeing things through the eyes of others, we risk losing the ability to help them see through our eyes.”- Bill Nussey.
Why is it so important for leaders to consider other viewpoints? How does seeing things through the eyes of others help leadership? How can leadership coaching help develop the ability to see and consider other viewpoints?
Better Decisions
Decision-making is the bread and butter of leadership. Considering alternative viewpoints helps leaders make better decisions. Good decisions result from critical thinking, which is always open to other viewpoints.
Diverse perspectives allow leaders to weigh the variables that shape their decisions from several angles. They also open leaders’ eyes to outcomes they may not have considered otherwise.
More Innovation and Creativity
Diversity in viewpoints is a fountain of fresh ideas and innovation. As leaders bounce thoughts and ideas off a diverse selection of employees, they gain exposure to potential solutions and outcomes as diverse as their supporting casts.
Improved Problem-Solving
In life and leadership, problems never arise without ramifications and far-reaching implications. Some problems may seem simple at first, then turn into more complicated versions of themselves.
A diversity of viewpoints can help leaders consider the potential ramifications of problems. A better understanding of a problem allows for a more sustainable and effective solution.
A Diversity-Focused Organizational Culture
Valuing diverse viewpoints and listening to those who deliver them creates a culture of inclusivity, diversity, appreciation, and coaching. When people know leaders value their input, they’re more willing to put forth ideas and contribute.
Employee engagement and retention facilitate the creation of a diverse and effective workforce well-aligned with the purpose and core values of the organization.
Better Communication
If trust is the hard currency of leadership, communication is the process of money printing. Leaders who listen to other viewpoints create environments of psychological safety where everyone is keen to contribute. When people share their opinions and thoughts freely, they facilitate improved problem-solving and better decision-making, improving the functionality and effectiveness of their teams.
How Does Executive Coaching Help Leaders Consider Other Viewpoints?
The ability to consider alternative perspectives requires a high level of self-awareness and emotional intelligence. From the perspective of executive coaching, self-awareness and emotional intelligence are basic leadership competencies.
Executive coaching specialists can help leaders improve their self-awareness and EQ by:
- Offering support and accountability. Coaches help clients work toward goals in a psychologically safe environment while holding them accountable and tracking their progress objectively.
- Uncovering leadership gaps and blind
spots. By providing feedback from their unique perspectives, coaches help leaders discover their shortcomings and weaknesses while identifying their strengths. Coaches challenge assumptions and provide objective, relevant feedback. - Improving self-reflection. Coaches help leaders analyze their decisions and behaviors from alternative angles. They hold up mirrors to their clients; mirrors free of bias-born distortions.
- Developing empathy. Empathy is another essential leadership ability and a component of emotional intelligence. Intelligent, successful leaders are empathic. Leadership coaching can help leaders become more empathic by teaching them to ask questions, listen actively, and practice non-judgment.
By considering other viewpoints, leaders improve their decision-making, communication, and problem-solving among other essential leadership skills. Leadership coaching can help leaders develop their empathy and self-reflection by offering support, helping them to discover their weaknesses, and holding them accountable.