“First, leaders who can relate are naturally curious about other people,” Quackenbush says. “This allows them to engage people by truly listening to what they have to say and getting their perspective—why they think the way they think, what is important to them, and how they would approach a situation.”
The other two factors are the ability to be humble and show a commitment to kindness, she notes. “All three of these abilities build compelling environments that attract and retain top talent,” Quackenbush says. “Great leaders enable organizations to achieve long-term, sustainable financial results through creating compelling environments for top talent. Without the ability to relate, leaders miss out on the potential to build an aligned, engaged, and committed workforce.”