Reading this text remind me of a time in high school when I was a part of a student organization. Our advisors didn’t just tell us what to do and expect that we do it, she ensured that we were able to voice our concerns and ideas. By her doing this, it made the whole group feel more respected which in turn had us all more invested in the group. As I continue to grow in my future careers, this reinforces the kind of leader I want to be as somebody who empowers, supports, and listens to their employees.

The message in “Needed: Leaders Who Inspire, Listen,” closely mirrors the ideas in “Value-Based Leadership Paradigm” article. Both emphasize that effective leadership is grounded in personal values, not just authority. The Business Journal piece highlights listening and empathy as essential traits of modern leaders, and the value based leadership model explains that leaders earn trust by being consistent in their leadership styles. Together, the text show that effective leadership depends on value driven behavior that is supposed to inspire others.

The argument in the article also mirros broader shifts in workplace today towards leadership and emotional intelligence. CEOs and managers are now being judged not only on performance, but also how they inspire their employees and how well they value the ideas of their employees. Listening has become a major component of healthy organizational culture, especially in a world that remote work and more diverse teams have increased over the last couple of years.

“Guest Column: Needed: Leaders Who Inspire, Listen.” Triangle Business Journal, 30 Sept. 2016, https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2016/09/30/guest-columnneeded-leaders-who-inspirelisten.html