Leadership And The Golden Rule

Today's blog entry is a quick summary of a post I guest authored for the Lead Change Group.  You can check out the original article, Does the Golden Rule Apply to Leaders?.

In my guest post, I outlined the case against the Golden Rule and provided an alternative option (some call it the Platinum Rule).  When applied correctly, this way of acting, can make a huge impact to the people you work with.

The quick bullet points are as follows:

• Golden Rule = treat others in the same way you'd like others to treat you.
• Different people have different ways they like to be recognized and treated
• Platinum Rule = Treat others as they would like to be treated.
• Leveraging the Platinum Rule is hard (it requires you take the time to get to know the people you work with and treat them they way they like to be treated).

The challenge… take the time to get to know those you lead.  Understand what motivates them and how they like to be rewarded and recognized.  When the opportunity strikes – treat them the way they would like to be treated.  Then… just step back and observe.

[note: The Lead Change Group is a community of leaders whose vision is to create a global, virtual community dedicated to instigating a leadership revolution.  It's a great community, with a fantastic mission – Leaders developing leaders!!]

Thanks to Chuck Hebert / Management 411