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Do you want to be a leader who inspires, motivates, and brings out the best in your team? Then, it's time to learn about resonant leadership.
This leadership style focuses on creating positive connections with people, building trust, and driving long-term success.
In this guide, we'll explore what it takes to become a resonant leader and how you can start making a real difference in your organization.
What is resonant leadership?
Resonant leadership is a leadership style that focuses on creating positive connections through empathy and emotional intelligence. Unlike more rigid or top-down leadership styles, resonant leaders prioritize developing relationships with their team and helping individuals succeed.
Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee coined the term "resonant leaders" to describe leaders who focus on relationship-building.
Through their resonance—their positive connection with others—these leaders maintain influence for long periods and drive long-term results for their team and organization.
Key characteristics of resonant leadership
Resonant leaders are empaths. They understand their team members’ emotions, whether related to personal or professional life. This characteristic allows resonant leaders to build collaborative and trusting environments.
These leaders are great mentors. They help their team members discover their true selves and support their career growth and personal development.
Resonant leaders are also visionaries for positive change. They use their emotional and social skills to inspire and get people on board with shared goals.
Differences between resonant and dissonant leadership
Resonant and dissonant leadership are two leadership styles that have distinct applications in work environments. The key is finding the right balance and not leaning too far toward one extreme or the other.
Dissonant leaders tend to take a more authoritative, command-and-control approach that prioritizes driving results over relationship-building.
While resonant leadership is generally viewed as the more desirable approach, there are certain situations—such as high-stakes decision-making—where a more directive, dissonant style may be necessary.
Benefits of resonant leadership in the workplace
Here are the main benefits of resonant leadership.
Enhanced collaboration and teamwork
Resonant leaders have strong emotional intelligence and show empathy, which helps them create connections between employees, strengthen relationships, and boost collaboration.
Additionally, they prioritize cultivating diversity and inclusion, ensuring that everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives.
By creating connections and a positive tone, resonant leaders enable their teams to work together more effectively toward common goals.
Increased productivity and performance
Resonant leadership delivers tangible results. The positive work environment, higher employee engagement, and collaborative spirit it fosters all contribute to meaningful, long-term improvements for the organization.
In this regard, resonant leadership overlaps with organizational leadership that focuses on improving an organization’s operations. When strong resonant leaders communicate the organization's vision effectively, they spark a sense of purpose and belonging, inspiring their teams to work together towards a common goal.
Promoting work-life balance
Resonant leaders recognize the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and actively promote employee wellbeing within their organizations.
By doing so, they empower employees to manage their personal and professional responsibilities, leading to increased job satisfaction and reduced burnout.
How to develop resonant leadership skills
Becoming a resonant leader isn't just about acquiring a certain set of technical skills. It's an ongoing process of personal growth and building positive relationships with your team.
Developing resonant leadership experience is also an important skill for your resume and can give you a significant advantage in the job market. It shows potential employers that you are committed to creating a supportive and successful work environment.
Step 1: Cultivating self-awareness and empathy
Self-awareness and empathy are foundational skills for resonant leadership. Leaders need to understand their own emotions and how they impact others. They must also be able to empathize with their team members' feelings and perspectives.
Some ways to build those essential skills over time include regularly asking for feedback, taking time to reflect, and genuinely listening to people.
Step 2: Practicing effective communication
Resonant leaders are skilled communicators who build an environment for open dialogue that supports successful internal communication.
They do this by engaging in active listening—paying attention to both verbal and nonverbal cues, asking questions, and checking for understanding to ensure everyone is on the same page. These leaders clearly articulate their vision, provide constructive feedback, and gracefully handle difficult conversations.
Step 3: Fostering a supportive work environment
A core aspect of resonant leadership is creating a positive emotional tone and a supportive work environment. Resonant leaders cultivate a culture where people feel valued and motivated to work toward the bigger picture.
Celebrating successes, showing appreciation, encouraging healthy risk-taking, and framing challenges as opportunities all contribute to a thriving workplace.
Also, authentic leaders model the values and behaviors they want to see in their team.
Real-world examples of resonant leaders
Resonant leadership examples demonstrate how emotionally intelligent leaders are able to drive results by connecting with others.
Notable corporate leaders such as Satya Nadella of Microsoft, Mary Barra of General Motors, and Hubert Joly of Best Buy are also celebrated for their emotional intelligence and people-focused approach. Their resonant leadership style is often attributed to their ability to turn around struggling businesses and cultivate strong organizational cultures.
Ryan Gellert, CEO of Patagonia, demonstrates resonant leadership by emphasizing collective action, honesty, transparency, and empathy in tackling climate change.
How to overcome challenges in implementing resonant leadership
While resonant leadership is a powerful approach, it also comes with its challenges. Recognizing them will help you prepare and overcome them strategically.
Let’s look at the main challenges to resonant leaders.
Addressing resistance to change
Switching to a resonant leadership style can be challenging, especially in organizations used to a more dissonant approach.
Leaders need to clearly communicate the benefits of change and involve stakeholders in the process. This is crucial to gaining buy-in and demonstrating the positive long-term impact of resonant leadership.
Offer support and resources to inform stakeholders and your team about the benefits of resonant leadership.
Balancing short-term goals with long-term vision
Resonant leaders need to balance achieving short-term results with pursuing a long-term vision. This requires strategic thinking, transparent decision-making, and the ability to adapt plans as circumstances change.
Resonant leaders keep their teams focused on group goals while navigating day-to-day challenges and ensuring daily efforts align with the bigger picture.
Maintaining consistency as an effective leader
Consistently practicing resonant leadership can be tough, especially during stressful times.
Leaders need to develop habits that help them renew and maintain their emotional balance. Practicing mindfulness, seeking feedback, and leaning on a support network are great ways to stay grounded.
Regular self-reflection and ongoing personal development also help leaders stay consistent in their approach over time.
Introducing resonant leadership at work
Resonant leadership skills can truly transform organizations and teams, but becoming a resonant leader is a journey that takes time and effort.
You can simplify the process with Together’s mentoring platform. Our pairing algorithm allows you to make perfect mentor and mentee matches, teaching resonant leadership through mentorship.
Book a demo today to see how we can help you develop great leaders.
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