“Human action can be modified to some extent, but human nature cannot be changed.” Abraham Lincoln
“Humans have not had a software update,” stated Simon Sinek during one of his podcasts. I forget the exact podcast, but I recall he said it and the statement hit me as profoundly true and relevant about how we lead people. In fact, the statement comforted me as I’m always assessing how I lead today and how I should lead in the future. I was reminded of this statement during a recent “A Bit Of Optimism,” podcast of titled, “The Reason Young People Don’t Have ‘The Hunger’ for work (And What Leaders Need to Hear) with Generations Expert Dr. Eliza Filby. The episode, which attempts to tackle the differences in generations is enlightening and informative. Here is the link for it. You would be a better leader for listening to it. I’ve been leading for well over three decades yet I’m still a student of leadership therefore I find books, articles, and programs such as podcast to be an essential.
Humans in many ways remain unchanged in their needs. These needs can be found in the theory of Abraham Maslow, commonly known as, “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs,” from his 1943 paper, “A Theory of Human Motivation.” Maslow posits, in a hierarchy of human needs from bottom to top – physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. The hierarchy begins with the foundational physiological needs such as air and food, to psychological needs such as self-actualization, personal growth, and moral development to produce a more complete and functioning human being. Moreover, we are social creatures who need other humans and teams to belong to and feel safe with. Leaders are the stewards of this social requirement and the age-old lessons of leadership – others before self, treat people with dignity and respect, make them feel heard and included, among others, still apply…
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