People Don't Quit their Job, They Quit their Boss!

A servant heart…many of you have heard me refer to this term as a characteristic of a successful EC. Well, it should come as no surprise that it is also a top characteristic of the most successful leaders.

Managers have a huge influence on employee’s engagement, productivity, and commitment to their job and organization. Research shows that people might tolerate a boring job, or a long commute in crazy traffic, for instance…but they are more prone to leave if their boss treats them poorly.

One of the biggest killers of culture and leadership: Arrogance!

A culture that is run from an attitude of superiority, big ego, and presumptuous claims and assumptions can be extremely detrimental to your employee’s career and organization’s success. A culture run from an attitude of love, collaboration, and trust, however, results in the most sustainable of companies.

How do managers best create a culture where everyone succeeds?

Managers define the culture of your organization, and a great culture drives the overall health, success and sustainability of your OTA business. By making your organization a culture where everyone succeeds and thrives, you succeed as well.

According to research from the University of Washington’s, Foster School of Business, it turns out that humble people are more likely to make the most effective leaders, and in turn, facilitate success. In other words, humility offers an awesome, competitive advantage.

There was a time when humility was perceived as a sign of weakness of a great leader. Although this is changing, there is still a perception that successful leaders need to have big egos. Narcissism is mistaken for self-confidence, and leaders become toxic in an attempt to “control” everything in their organization. They may provide short-term results but will leave a wake of destruction in their path.

Arrogant leaders also have a shelf-life within their organizations. They may “rule the day”, but eventually their people are worn out by their tactics which lessens commitment from their team. Intimidation and threats of punishment will only be so effective. High turnover will result, another telling consequence of poor leadership. High turnover harms any business and forces you to re-train employees, wasting a considerable amount of time, money, and resources, while continually being in “rebuilding mode.” 

Here are my simple 8 characteristics of a “Humble Leader":

1. They always put their people first. Their focus is on serving others. They do not get consumed by seeking out more power. Instead, they seek more ways to help others. Thusly, the servant heart…
2. They admit their own mistakes. All leaders make mistakes. They shun the blame game when things go wrong and instead, hold themselves accountable. Vulnerability builds trust.
3. They openly share information and delegate. Humble leaders are aware of their strengths and weaknesses. They realize that they cannot do everything. They delegate because success is more important than their ego.
4. They are approachable to all of their employees and this allows them to create an environment of open communication and effective feedback.
5. They do not hesitate to give credit, where credit is due. They appreciate the contributions of others and are quick to recognize and reward the efforts of their team members.
6. They are empathetic to those that they manage. They genuinely care about their employees and their employees can feel this sincerity. This creates a bond with their team members.
7. They are authentic. They are the same person in every situation. This makes them trustworthy. Authenticity goes hand in hand with integrity. They are always individuals of integrity.
8. They lead with Love. This is one of our greatest beliefs, and our most vital Core Value.

One of my favorite mantra’s I have adopted over the years is…

" No matter how educated, talented, wealthy, or cool you believe you are,

how you treat your people tells me who you really are. Integrity is everything"

Humility doesn't mean that leaders can't make tough decisions. A humble leader should not be mistaken for a weak leader. It takes strength, courage, and a lot of wisdom to practice humility. As Jim Collins describes in his book, Good to Great (Eyal Shahar’s favorite book btw), good leadership is a paradoxical blend of professional willpower and personal humility.

I have learned that the best leaders are selfless and more concerned with the well-being of their team, than they are with personal titles, or status symbols. Humble leaders get the best from people. They have more influence, they retain top talent, and they earn more respect and loyalty than those who rely on ego and power alone. Want to be a great boss? Start by taking a slice or two of humble pie! You might be surprised at the amazing results you will drive, and the people you will retain!