Lead People

Audio Version

We lead people, right, or do we? Am I missing something? Who else would we be leading? Perhaps, I should be asking, what are we leading? Sometimes, as leaders, the "what" seems to become more important than the "who". Yet, to be a great leader, the "who" always has to come before the "what". "We lead people, not outcomes" is one of the statements and adamant points made by Dr. Marcus Funchess, a mentor and friend of mine. He goes on to say, "If you lead people well, you will get the outcomes." The longer I stay in leadership and learn about it, I understand the statements made by Dr. Funchess to be true and relevant in the experiences I have with the leaders I report to and how I implement these truths in my leadership. I have encountered leaders who get the most out of their people by building positive relationships and others who need to focus more on their relationships to get better results. 

I am learning that to lead well, we have to be willing to be human, being the people we were created to be. We also need to make sure that we take care of ourselves to be our best for the people we serve. Kim Scott, in her book Radical Candor (2019), put it this way, "In life, I learned that too much emphasis on shareholder value actually destroys value, as well as morale. Instead, I learned to focus first on staying centered myself, so that I could build real relationships with each of the people who worked for me. Only when I was centered and my relationships were strong could I fulfill my responsibilities as a manager to guide my team to achieve the best results. Shareholder value is the result. It's not the core, though." Rather than unpacking her statement, I want to point out the emphasis placed on the morale that is lost when the "what" becomes greater than the "who" and the results that are possible when the "who" is a greater emphasis than the "what".

As leaders, we are expected to get results. Even though this is true, we must not let the pressure of getting results cause us to assume that the results are more important than the people we lead. We must put the people first and trust the process. So, how do we do this?

Here are five ways we can lead that will help us lead people well. The first four are from Mauricio Arellano, the Superintendent of one of the largest school districts in California. We need to: 1) See People; 2) Hear People; 3) Value People; 4) Love People; and 5) Empower People. These are not listed by order of importance, but each is important and should become part of your practice in leading people. These principles are not just good within organizations, but they apply to leading a family, a sports team, and in the community. These principles work wherever there are people. Do these well, and the results will come.

Application:

1. See People: To see people, we must be where the people are. We can't know what support people need if we are not present to see them during their daily activities. When you are present to see the people, they also see you. As a result, you become a visible leader by intentionally going where the people are. Another way to see people is by recognizing their contributions. Whatever form of recognition you choose, it needs to be authentic and done with care. One of the worst things that could happen is if a leader recognizes someone and the recognition is misinterpreted or misunderstood because the recognition or praise was given haphazardly. This can be avoided by always obtaining clarity before recognition or praise is given.
2. Hear People: To hear people, we must create platforms that promote two-way communication. Some people use a parking lot system, schedule regular check-ins, have an open-door policy, and create opportunities for everyone to be heard before, during, and after meetings. Whatever strategy or strategies you use, people must know that their voice is being heard. Even if the answer delivered is not favorable to them, they still need to know their voice is heard, and the answer should be delivered in a way that continues to allow them to want to be heard.
3. Value People: To value people, we must let people know that they matter and are respected. They need to know that they matter and are respected so much that we hold them to high expectations because we want the best for them. Leaders who value people treat people the way they (the person) desire to be treated, with the hope that it will encourage them to become the best versions of themselves inside and outside the organization, team, community group, classroom, home, etc. The assumption cannot be made that what motivates one person motivates someone else, and what motivates me motivates you as well. It takes time and relationship to understand what motivates the individuals we lead, but it is worth it if you value people.
4. Love People: Everything we do should be rooted in our love for the people. I would say that love is the focal point of this list. There is no way I can lead my people well if I do not love them. Love is not only felt, but it is also seen and heard. I cannot truly value and empower people if I don't love them. If I don't love the people, I will not take the time to hear and see them without ulterior motives. The leaders I admire and who are successful are those who love their people, and their people know it. They have their best interest at heart, and in turn, they get the best from those who are under their leadership.
5. Empower People: Empowering people shows them that you trust them. A leader who empowers the people displays that they trust them to do what they do and to do it well. Empowering someone to be the best version of themselves requires the leader to provide them with the tools, resources, training, coaching, and feedback that will encourage them to make sound decisions, reflect, and obtain/retrieve information that will help them thrive. Empowering people enhances the value they bring to the community (learning, working, educational, and social).

Conclusion:

We lead people! Remember, as Dr. Funchess says, "We lead people, not outcomes. If we lead people well, we will get the outcomes." Seeing, hearing, valuing, loving, and empowering people will enhance our leadership and help us be the leaders we are supposed to be. My goal is to focus on these five areas within my leadership. Successful leaders have proven that the "best results" come as a result of their focus on leading people. Why should anyone try to reinvent the wheel? When the center of the wheel is loving the people, love will not steer you wrong. 

Additional Comments:

I want to hear from you. Please post your comments and suggestions in the comments section on this page. Thank you for reading or listening to this blog post. Stay tuned for the next blog, scheduled to be posted on Monday, August 4, 2025.