Leading Through Visibility
The following is adapted from Abundance Leaders: Creating Energy, Joy, and Productivity in an Unsettled World by Laura Freebairn-Smith.
Visibility is one of the core competencies of Abundance Leaders. It is important for staff and other key constituents to see you regularly. Because of your iconic status as leader, your presence and visibility provide reassurance that there is someone at the helm, that you are accessible, and that you are functioning. It sounds strange to mention the last item, but it is important for people to know that you are healthy and functioning and capable of leading.
These subconscious and conscious needs of your constituents are true also for your leadership team that surrounds you. In an article published in 2022, Steve Keating articulates the power of being visible, which he writes is one of the least mentioned leadership characteristics:
“If your people can’t see you then your people can’t follow you. You are the model for the culture of your organization. You are the face of (its) values . (Y)ou can’t be any of those things if you’re not seen…on a regular basis.
(Nothing comes) close to just being ‘out there.’ Short hallway conversations with anyone and everyone…make everyone feel as if they belong. The higher up you are in the organization the more these brief conversations are valued by the people you lead.
The higher you are in the organization the more likely you are to get bogged down with … managing the organization” (Keating 2022).
Keating added that the only way to tell if you’re “out there” and visible enough is to gauge by asking your people for their opinion. You can read more from Keating here.
Depending on the size of your organization, you can be visible in a variety of ways. There is the physical visibility of walking around. The old idea of managing by walking around (MBWA) is still a valid and useful tool as a leader. The size of your organization will dictate how much you can use this tool. In Keating’s article, he writes of the value of MBWA — that even though you may feel, as a leader, that the last thing you have time for is a casual talk with one of your people in the mail room, or the loading dock. But missing out on these opportunities is a terrible mistake, Keating writes.
When I was the director of organizational development at Yale, I had about 27 staff on two floors. Every morning, whenever I could, I would stop and chat with each staff member, sometimes in small groups. I’m an extrovert so I loved making the connection with the staff and hearing what they were working on and how I might be helpful.
There are many more modern, high-tech ways to be visible. Videoconferencing has been a game changer. Large town halls broadcast across the globe can work also. Reaching out weekly with an update to your staff, written in your voice, can be very effective.
The key with visibility as a leadership competency is to pay attention to the frequency with which you are being visible and providing access to you to the whole range of constituents and groups within your organization. It doesn’t hurt to keep an organizational map handy at your desk. Take a look at it regularly and ask how and when you have been in contact with each group. What information might they be seeking to do their jobs better and to feel reassured about our progress as an organization?
Tips and techniques for staying visible
- Move your body out of your office, through the halls, onto the loading docks, into the soul of your organization.
- Engage in the simple and critical work of making the human connection. Say hello. Stop to talk to people.
- Repeat what is important for the organization’s survival, over and over.
- Hold open office hours.
- Make your calendar visible to the staff.
- Rotate through your direct reports’ staff meetings.
Sources
Keating, Steve. “Leadership Visibility” (2022). https://stevekeating.me/2022/05/05/leadership-visibility.
Looking for More Support?
- Develop Abundance Leadership competencies through our Abundance Leadership Immersion Program.
- Get support on your leadership journey by working with a coach.
This post was originally published in Wiley Publishing’s Dean & Provost in April 2023.
