The more aware you are of how the way you interact impacts others, the more likely you’ll be able to lead them.
A graphical user interface, or “GUI,” is computer code that determines what we see on our screens and how we interact with our devices. A good one makes our devices and apps more relatable, causing the interaction to seem effortless. So it shouldn’t shock you that the best leaders have the same quality: they work hard to relate positively with — and so bring out the best in — others.
That’s why you can think of good leaders as having an excellent “HUI” — human user interface. Your HUI is where the rubber meets the road in terms of your communication and interpersonal skills.
Good leadership impact starts with good interaction impact
Clearly, when people’s experiences interacting with a leader are negative, that leader’s going to be less effective than she or he could be. After all, whenever others must spend extra time and energy adapting to a leader’s problematic HUI, they won’t be bringing their best.
Consider leaders people admire greatly. Think of Nelson Mandela or Martin Luther King, Jr., for example. They had amazing HUIs. They knew their impact was inspiring, authentic, and compelling, and their leadership was extraordinary.
Now consider someone you know or work with who may be somewhat (or very) unaware of how they impact others. They may have a clunky or immature interface, or overuse their authority over others — or they may just have a bad relational habit or two that requires others to do extra work to have a smooth interaction with them. They lack a great HUI and are certainly not practicing conscious self-awareness of their impact.
The more aware you can be of how the way you interact impacts others, the more likely you’ll be to lead them in a positive, inspiring, sustainable way. (The reverse is also true.) It’s that simple.
That’s why conscious awareness and control of your HUI are so critical — your interaction skill is the foundation of your leadership impact.
So let’s resolve to optimize our own “human user interface.” I want you to tap into the best version of interactive-you, and in so doing, to help you bring out the best in others, even (particularly) when stress is high.
3 simple questions to improve employee engagement
Here’s a starting point for you. Over the next few weeks, as you are interacting with others, practice conscious self-monitoring. Throughout your interactions, ask yourself at least one, and maybe more, of the following questions:
1. How does my interface come across to others? What experience of me am I generating right now?
2. What do I want my interface to be like, ideally?
3. What do I need to change to make my ideal interface a reality?
Give yourself some leeway as you work with these internal questions. Like any important skill, it takes a bit of time, patience and practice. But eventually that “observer you” will begin to join your conscious awareness, day in and day out. And as it becomes increasingly embedded in your leadership skills, you will look back and wonder how you ever did without it.
You may be the most brilliant, accomplished person in the world. Yet over time, it’s actually your HUI that can make or break you as a leader, accelerating or preventing all you hoped to achieve.
So work on it, and you will find observer-you to be invaluable as a leader. And in so doing, you’ll help others be at their best. I can think of no better definition of leadership.
So, how’s your HUI?
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David Peck is a Partner and US Lead for Executive Coaching at Heidrick Consulting. He’s been published extensively and is the author of Beyond Effective. Twitter: @coachdavidpeck