Sooner or later the follower is going to ask themselves if the leader cares about them as a human being. If the follower feels that they are nothing more than a means to an end – a cog in a machine, trust is broken, and the follower disengages. We must see those we are leading as more than just resources and they must feel like they are more than just resources. In practice, this means taking an interest in who your followers are both inside and outside of the role they play in your organisation.
Learning about an individual is helpful for Envision and Enable. When you understand the person’s heart on their own terms you can better articulate your vision in a way that they find compelling. When you find out what they are good at and what they enjoy doing, you are better able to deploy them into roles they will thrive in.
But don’t attempt to fake interest in people. Love them, from the heart. Be interested in them and you will Embrace them well.