It's amazing how many people believe that once they obtain a certain title or level of leadership, that their constituents will automatically respect them and listen to them. People who operate from this old school concept of position & title believe that a large amount of power is granted to them based on their title alone. Leaders who operate from this sort of positional mindset are often unable to look beyond the roles and responsibilities of their title in order to understand if their performance, attitude, and general behavior negatively affects others. Their unawareness and what appears to be lower emotional intelligence (EQ) issues, causes them to perceive others as lesser, thereby using manipulation to acquire influence while further reducing the trust others place in them. As a leader, you can gain more influence by tapping into the “heart” of those you want to affect than you ever could by intimidation or oppression. We need fewer title-driven leaders and more heart-driven leaders who inspire and positively impact the character and behavior of those they serve.

Many leaders feel if they let their guard down or are vulnerable, that their constituents will see them as weak. Admittedly, it can be a tricky balance at times. Where you are either what is considered a “Players Coach,” or a “Disciplinarian.” Both styles are effective in their own way, but what if you had the ability encompass both? Now that would be something, but it’s not the easiest thing to pull off. The problem is you don’t want to send a contradictory message, because otherwise people won’t trust your resolve or levelness as a leader, because you may look inconsistent and flighty. The key is to start with yourself. If you want to effectively lead, you need to work on yourself from the inside out. Get your house in order prior to espousing your agenda to everyone else. If your goal is to become a heart-driven leader, but you want people to see you as strong and capable, then you need to begin by becoming that which you expect of others. 

Start by creating a personal constitution that you decide to live by. This personal constitution will be your life template, your truth. It’s the set of value-based principles that you operate by and becomes your true north. If you want to be a strong leader or good at anything you do, then throw your heart and a disciplined mind into it. The conjoining of your heart and mind is what Driven with Heart is all about. If you were to divide the phrase out into the sum of its parts, the Driven part would be your tangible skills and determination, and the Heart piece would be your passion, or love for the people you represent. This could be anything from family to business affiliations which can very much be a family, as well. Your personal constitution foundationally sets the stage for all that follows. If a heart-driven style where you blend toughness and smarts with passion and heart is something you desire, then adopting and affirming a personal constitution is essential. If you want those you represent to trust your tenacity, competence, and honesty, then you must embody those said attributes all the time.