What is Leadership 101?

If you had to explain leadership in one simple sentence, what would you say?

After 100 episodes of talking to extraordinary people about what it means to lead, one answer keeps rising to the top. And it’s not what you might expect.

This short episode marks the beginning of a new chapter — and a return to something essential.

Tune in to discover the one thing that most great leaders have in common.

(And if you’re serious about growing as a leader, check out our Team Leader Essentials and Accelerating Performance programmes — link below)

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Transcript

Defining Leadership’s Core

Be Human First

Practical Ways To Be Human

Programs And Next Steps

Connect, Subscribe, And Stay Curious

SPEAKER_00 0:05

Welcome to Leading People with me, Jerry Murray. This week it's One Simple Thing, where in each episode I share a quick, actionable tip to help you bring out the best in yourself and others. One simple thing is created for young leaders. But hey, us older folks can still learn a thing or two? Ask my dog, he's learned a few new tricks recently. Here's a question for you. If you had to explain leadership to someone who's never led before, what would you say? Would you talk about strategy, communication, decision making? Or would you start somewhere more human? After one hundred episodes talking to extraordinary people about leadership, one truth keeps surfacing. And it's simpler than most people think. Great leaders leave you feeling something. Not just impressed, not just instructed, and not just inspired. But seen, heard, and valued. In short, they leave you feeling human. And here's today's one simple thing. What is leadership 101? It's this be human first, a leader second. It's not about having all the answers. It's about creating a space where others can show up fully and do their best work, where people feel safe enough to contribute and brave enough to make mistakes, learn, and grow. So, what does being human look like in practice? First, admit you don't always know the answer. This builds trust. Ask how someone's really doing and mean it. And respond. Don't just react. Especially under pressure. And you don't have to go on a silent retreat or do a PhD in psychology. You just have to slow down long enough to see the people you lead as people. Because people remember how you make them feel. And the leaders who truly succeed, they're not just good at the job, they're good at being human. This episode kicks off the next 100 leading people episodes with a clear direction. We're exploring the beating heart of leadership. And if you want to be the kind of leader that succeeds, check out our team leader essentials and accelerating performance programs. They have been carefully designed and road tested to help leaders, just like you, bring out the best in yourself and others. You'll find a link in the show notes. And that's another one simple thing. Thanks for tuning in. Remember, small steps can lead to big changes. Test out this one simple thing and notice how it transforms your day. Let me know how you get on. Reach out on LinkedIn and connect with me. Mention the podcast. And if you'd like to learn more One Simple Things, then subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast channel and follow our LinkedIn Leading People page. In our next episode of One Simple Thing, we'll explore another easy way to be a great leader by bringing out the best in yourself and those around you. And in between, you can check out one of my longer conversations with leading people about, yes, you've guessed it, leading people. So until then, keep exploring and stay curious.