Why and how do true leaders build a company culture based on emotional connection.

The future belongs to those who are capable of connecting with others on a deeper level. Successful CEOs and top managers with great company cultures are those who know how to connect with their employees; winning politicians are those who know how to connect with the public; successful sales representatives are those who know how to connect with their prospective customers. In short, regardless of one’s role or position, connection is key!

Three guiding principles for the era of emotional connections

Slowly but surely, we are leaving the era in which technology and a purely analytical and rational way of functioning has always taken centre stage. And we are moving on to a new era: the era of “emotion”. As such, companies in which “emotion” plays a pivotal role will become the protagonists of tomorrow’ success stories. Those companies that promote “feel good” concepts and/or help people fulfil their dreams will be the ones to make the cut.

At Arteel, experience has taught us that there are three guiding principles that lead to booking results and being successful in this new era.

Here, I’ll happily share them with you!

1. Generosity

Just to be perfectly clear from the outset: “generosity” does not mean giving away or endlessly doing good by financially supporting charitable organisations.

“Generosity” does mean developing the skills and ability to give yourself. How?

• By fully embracing vulnerability – those leaders that are able to summon up the courage to show their vulnerability will be tomorrow’s successful leaders;
• By showing your engagement, based on your own personal story;
• By acknowledging the essential importance of recognition and giving twice as much as you receive. Once you have mastered the art of truly recognising the people that cross your path, they, in turn, will be open to what you have to say. By expressing your appreciation and giving people a good feeling after meeting you, you secure yourself a position on the winning team!

2. First lead yourself

The media is swamped with theories, lectures and workshops on “leadership”.

But how many people in leadership positions, functioning at the highest level, are also capable of being a good leader to their very own body and mind? How many leaders of this kind do you know? My guess is not many.

Yet, how can someone be a true top performer, or fulfil a top executive function, if they are not capable of running 10 km at a good pace or riding uphill without needing an electric bike? How can someone supposedly be in “top condition”, yet at the same time need pills and energy drinks to function properly? Body and mind go hand in hand, and the expression “a healthy mind in a healthy body” is a truism.

Still, most of us are not fully aware that investing in both our physical and mental health is essential to be able to function optimally; and in order to be successful in our modern-day economy, functioning optimally is exactly what one needs to do.

And this is even more true for those in leadership positions: if you cannot manage to be a good leader to your own body and mind, how can you be a role model for others? Al Pacino once said: “I wish the stage was a tightrope so that only the brave could enter.” How many leaders, consultants, top managers and role models do you think would meet that benchmark?

3. Be passionate and love what you do

The successful companies of the future are those companies that have the know-how of aligning their own mission and values with the mission and values of their employees, so as to create a healthy company culture.

Only if employees genuinely can’t wait to walk through their office door and “breathe” the company culture, are they able to connect with customers. Yet how many people truly feel connected with the mission and values of the organisation they work for? How many people truly feel passionate to pull their weight?

Only with enough oxygen can you keep a fire going. And the same applies to a company: only when the company’s employees receive enough oxygen, can they keep the company’s fire going – come rain or come shine. That is why every person in a leadership position needs to be like a team captain of a sports team: well-trained, strong and with a healthy balance in both body and mind. Then, from this position of strength, they can create a solid mission and contribute in a positive way to the vision of the team they play with – pushing their team all the way to the top.

And, in light of the above, it goes unspoken that such a team captain is made out of far more than a mere checklist of job-related competencies.