DALLAS -- Ty Bennett, founder of Leadership Inc. and author of "The Power of Influence," had an admittedly blunt question for the retailers attending his Convenience Retailer University (CRU) general session in Dallas this week: "Why in the world would anyone follow you as a leader?"
In today's world, Bennett said, the answer is no longer simply "because I'm the boss." Influence is a much more complex issue, based not on power, but how an individual leads.
"Each of you choose the level of influence you have based on your approach to leadership," Bennett said.
Some key takeaways Bennett shared from his experience with successful leaders across all paths of business and politics:
- People aren't committed to jobs or to companies: they're committed to people. When Bennett took a survey of what company heads want from their employees, 75% answered commitment. But true commitment doesn't come from liking a job or liking a company--it comes from personal relationships.
Bennett cited an example of a recent hostile takeover, where one shareholder attempted to force out the existing CEO, only to have 20,000 workers go on strike. The CEO not only supported his people by paying well over minimum wage and instituting tuition reimbursement programs, but built personal relationships. "He knew his employees and they loved him for it," said Bennett. "It's why in today's world, partnership is the new leadership."
- Partnership-based leadership is a balanced approach. Too often, corporate heads are guilty of hypocritical expectations, holding employees to one standard but granting themselves a loophole. Bennett said this kind of action kills influence. "Accountability is a two-way street," he said. "If you view your people as partners, not subordinates, you approach leadership in a very different way."
- I get my highest return on investments when I invest in people. "When you invest in people, you invest time, not money," Bennett said, sharing the story of a military general who spent his off hours taking pictures of his troops to send back home to their families. "Do you think those troops were committed or merely compliant?"
- When we invest in people, they want to invest in us. "It's the law of reciprocity, how we naturally respond," Bennett said, pointing out that when someone gives us a birthday gift or sends a Christmas card, we almost instinctually do the same.
- Culture eats strategy for lunch. "Strategy, being really great at what you do, is no longer a competitive advantage--it's the entry fee," said Bennett. "What differentiates a company is culture … and partnership leaders create amazing cultures."
- People support what they help create. This is partially a result of social media, which has given people at all levels a platform to express their views. "We don't just believe that we should have a voice, we now believe we have to have a voice and at our voice should be heard at every level of the organization," said Bennett. "If you and I don't get that people support what they help create, top-down directives don't work the same."
"When you go to create your culture, understand that you have to involve people in the process," Bennett concluded. "Partner-leaders don't create cultures for people, they create cultures with people."
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