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What To Expect?

In today’s article, how the action of showing me, not telling me provides effective leadership. I will discuss how effective a leader is if they can show their, team, organisation or child how to do it rather than providing the theory of it. I hope this helps on your leadership journey.

Showing vs Telling

All of our life we are surrounded by people in leadership positions. From our parents, extended family to teachers early on in life. There’s a lot of information that gets thrown at our minds. Some stick and some don’t.

We all have different minds with a different approach to learning that makes us unique in our own way. As different humans are we are also very similar in many ways too.

When it comes to learning I have found that the approach of someone showing me how to do something is completely different to some telling me. When a teacher told me about how I should write in English. The theory was great for understanding what it means. But that did not prepare me to fully comprehend how to put it into action.

Through trial and error, you give it a go. But It takes a lot longer to learn as your just showing yourself what’s right and what’s not. Whereas when a leader shows you. Your mind can decipher the puzzle by seeing everything they do down to the tiniest detail.

What You See Is What You Get

I have many examples in my life where I see something been done that has helped me learn a lot faster than someone just telling me. It has led to quicker productivity.

In a social setting when I’m playing games and I’m stuck on a certain level. I type on google the walkthrough of the game. When I read what to do it takes a lot longer to process. Whereas a Youtube video, I can understand what to do much easier.

I have taught many people in a coaching role with a variety of different skills and when you focus just on the theory the chances of them understanding it and applying the information are slim.

Whereas when I show them how to do it repeatedly until they can do it themselves. The rate increases exponentially.

What The Science Says

There have been many studies that have shown the brain retains more information when it is shown visually.

According to Dr Lynell Burmark, an education consultant who writes and speaks about visual literacy: “…unless our words, concepts, ideas are hooked onto an image, they will go in one ear, sail through the brain, and go out the other ear. Words are processed by our short-term memory where we can only retain about seven bits of information (plus or minus 2). Images, on the other hand, go directly into long-term memory where they are indelibly etched.”

Furthermore, this effect increases over time. One study found that after three days. A user retained only 10-20 per cent of written or spoken information but almost sixty-five per cent of visual information.

Another study showed that an illustrated text was nine per cent more effective than text alone when testing immediate comprehension and 83 per cent more effective when the test was delayed.

These studies show the power of our eyes seeing something get done rather than just hearing how to do it.

How Can You Become An Effective Leader

How The Action Of Showing Me, Not Telling Me Provides Effective Leadership — Photo by Jehyun Sung on Unsplash

Being an effective leader requires you to focus on what the people your leading need. They don’t need you to tell them what to do, they need you to show them what to do.

A child will learn from the parents who sit down and show them how to do a maths equation. A university student will graduate with the theory of the subject but will only truly learn how to put that theory into action. When someone shows them how to do it first hand.

Remember people will follow the leaders who provide the example to follow not the instructions of how to do it. Nothing compares to seeing clearly how something is done compared to imaging how we think it should be done.

Over To You

I hope you enjoyed today article, how the action of showing me, not telling me provides effective leadership

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Hi, I’m Adam

I’ve spent over 10 years coaching and mentoring people within sport and business. I have many life skills that I have developed and I want to pass these skills on so people can find their best self. I believe it all starts in the mind and I write about valuable tools and strategies to help people grow in this area.

Within today’s article, 6 ways a mentor can help you with imposter syndrome. We will discuss how you as a mentor can help anyone overcome their imposter syndrome. In a time where imposter syndrome is becoming more well know and prevalent within society. It is your duty as a mentor to help guide people to regain control of reality and their mind.

How To Help Someone With Imposter Syndrome

At some point, we all face imposter syndrome whether that’s you getting a promotion into a management position and you don’t feel deserving of the role or you get asked to write a book and you don’t feel your message is worth anyone hearing.

From a mentors point of view spotting this in people is an important part of coaching and leading people. It can be hard for people to see their own fault and what holds them back. Looking from the outside in. You can place yourself in a unique position to help comfort and guide people away from imposter syndrome.

Here are some of the ways you can do this.

6 Ways A Mentor Can Help You With Imposter Syndrome

1. Let Them Know They Are Not Alone

Once you have spotted imposter syndrome in someone. Let them know they’re not the only person going through this. By letting them know that you go through it, all the people around you and the successful people you watch on TV, all go through it too.

When we get caught with imposter syndrome we have a tendency to make ourselves feel it’s just us and us alone are going through this. Comforting your mentees to let them know they’re not alone can help a lot in overcoming imposter syndrome. Telling them your own stories and showing them real-life stories can uplift their spirits that it’s not just them.

2. Look Out For Negative Self-Talk

A quick way to spot if someone is experiencing imposter syndrome is by listening to what they say about themselves. For example, saying I’m not good enough to do this or I’m too stupid to do this.

As a mentor, you should calmly and immediately move them away from this negative self-talk. You can do this by presenting them with facts as to why these statements are completely false. Showing them when they have succeeded and what everyone else thinks of them. Slowly absorb and throw out any negative self-talk they have.

From there help them by teaching techniques like how to create a victory list of their achievements and help them remember their successes. This will give them the power to correct themselves when you’re not there.

3. Let Them Know What You Think Of Them

Affirming on a regular basis the positivity you see in the people you mentor. Can stop imposter syndrome from forming in the first place. There is something good in everyone, you just have to look.

By being honest with your assessments it will them overcome self-doubt and help them believe they are worthy of the position or task they’re doing. Make a mental note or write down at least one thing to the person you’re mentoring and let them know.

Watch or listen to how they feel and perform as a consequence of your affirmation towards them. A mentor who doesn’t let their mentee know what they are doing well at. Will allow imposter syndrome to flourish at some point.

4. Eradicate Sexism, Racism And Social Hierarchy

You wouldn’t think these 3 words would affect imposter syndrome but it surely does. Imposter syndrome was first researched with women where women felt their efforts and place in the workplace was at cost of being female. Also, minorities in an organisation have a feeling they don’t belong because they don’t fit in with the majority. This brings out the self-doubt, imposter syndrome feeds off.

That is why you as a mentor or leader have to create an environment where everyone matters and that everyone regardless, of gender, race or social standing that you are deserving of being here.

The old way of thinking of being a man, being white or being from a well off family means of deserving more has to disappear. We know now categorically that women are just as smart as men, that we’re are human with the same mental capacity and just because you are born into a certain family means nothing to what you can achieve. Understanding this you will create an environment that anyone would love to work in.

5. Create A Safe Space For Mental Health

I think now with all the knowledge we know about mental health. Having a safe space where people can talk about their problems and concerns should be of importance.

This is one way you can help someone prevent and overcome imposter syndrome.

I would recommend that you study and seek expert advice when dealing with anyone’s mental health and depending on the size of your organisation. Having a fully trained professional is a great option to have which most sports teams and the biggest companies have now. To simply listen and find solutions together can really help the mindset change from imposter syndrome.

6. Help Them To Self Manage Imposter Syndrome

It’s amazing if you can help someone overcome imposter syndrome but it can be even more empowering to teach them to overcome it themselves. Self-management leads to long term happiness and the power to be in charge of imposter syndrome when it creeps up. Check out 8 ways to overcome imposter syndrome for developing this on an individual basis.

Over To You

I hope you learned from today’s article 6 Ways A Mentor Can Help You With Imposter Syndrome.

It can be a difficult job being someone’s mentor but it’s also a privilege too. It’s our duty to provide the best mentoring possible and helping them overcome imposter syndrome can be one of them.

Are there any other strategies that you know of to combat imposter syndrome as a mentor? Please write it in the comments below.

IF YOU LOVED THE ARTICLE PLEASE SHARE BELOW!

Hi, I’m Adam