COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP: ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL

Two important attributes that a leader can possess include emotional intelligence and adaptability. We have seen a number of leaders make an impact in their communities and display these attributes through their work. This ranges from small business and nonprofits owners, to educators and entrepreneurs.

Emotional intelligence can be understood as one’s ability to perceive, understand, express, use, and manage emotions within one’s self as well as among others. This begins with recognizing that not all followers are the same. A leader’s emotional intelligence should allow him or her to detect and respect an individual’s needs, and to consequently accommodate those needs effectively and unconditionally. It is also important to understand that resistance to change is natural, and followers may be hesitant to implement a leader’s feedback. Emotional intelligence allows an individual to recognize pushback as a common response and, rather than to feel discouraged, to approach the situation with care, patience, and clarity. Furthermore, emotional connection expands to the mission and values of the organization, and how followers identify with these values. Effective leaders can inspire followers to believe in the mission of an organization, to believe in their cause, to seek services, etc.

A leader can demonstrate adaptability by employing various approaches to leadership with the intention of catering to the individual. Making these adjustments is crucial to successful leadership; for instance, the needs of developing business owners will not likely resemble those of the individuals who experience insufficient means to digital access. If a small to medium sized business might benefit from a stronger online presence, an effective approach might be to teach the ways in which advertising can help a company to reach a more widespread audience. In other instances, members of the community who are prone to the disadvantages of limited access to information and online services might benefit from workshops intended to educate users on how to locate and utilize cost-free resources that are available to them.

As community leaders, we must personalize our approach to guiding each individual based on his or her position, situation, values, and needs. This way, we are able to encourage growth while fostering effective and meaningful relationships.