Great leaders inspire loyalty, trust, and performance by connecting with their team members on a deeper level.
Gallup’s research identifies four core needs that followers seek in a leader: Hope, Trust, Compassion, and Stability.
I’ve seen evidence of this countless times in my over 27,000 one-on-one leadership sessions with inspired teams and leaders. I’ve seen what works… and what isn’t working. I’ve seen firsthand how meeting these fundamental needs mobilizes a team’s potential, fosters a positive work environment, and maximizes growth.
Neglecting them, however, allows disengagement and uncertainty to take root.
How can we, as leaders, intentionally cultivate these four needs? It’s simpler than you think: by leveraging our CliftonStrengths® to supercharge our impact!
Let’s explore each need and how Strengths-based leadership can enhance your effectiveness.
The Four Needs of Followers: Hope
Providing a Vision for the Future
Hope stands as the strongest need of followers, with Gallup’s global study revealing that 56% of leadership attributes relate to this theme. Hopeful leaders offer a compelling vision that illuminates a brighter future.
Why People Need Hope: A vision of a better future fuels motivation, resilience, and engagement, empowering individuals to overcome obstacles and remain committed to long-term goals. Without hope, people become disengaged and uncertain about their path forward.
How to Lead with Hope:
Strengths in Action: Leaders with Strategic, Futuristic, or Positivity Strengths naturally inspire hope by casting a clear and compelling vision.
Additional Key Strengths: Maximizer (helps people see and strive for excellence), Communication (articulating a vision clearly), and Woo (rallying people around an idea).
Practical Steps to Inspire Hope: Regularly communicate the team’s direction and how each individual contributes to the bigger picture. Reinforce optimism, even in challenging times.
The Four Needs of Followers: Trust
Building Credibility Through Integrity
“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” – Proverbs 10:9
Trust is the foundation of any strong team, built through honesty, consistency, and integrity. Gallup found that trust accounts for 33% of leadership attributes mentioned by followers.
Why Followers Need Trust: Trust fosters security, collaboration, and confidence in leadership. When trust is present, people feel safe to take risks, express their ideas, and fully contribute to the team’s mission. Without trust, skepticism and disengagement arise.
How to Lead with Trust:
Strengths in Action: Leaders with Responsibility, Belief, or Consistency Strengths naturally exude dependability and ethical leadership.
Additional Strengths: Relator (building deep, genuine relationships), Connectedness (helping teams see the bigger picture), and Developer (mentoring others to grow in a trustworthy way).
Practical Steps to Build Trust: Follow through on promises, maintain transparency, and ensure your actions align with your values and words.
The Four Needs of Followers: Compassion
Showing You Care
People desire more than just a leader; they want to be seen, heard, and valued. Compassionate leadership fosters stronger relationships and higher engagement.
Why Followers Need Compassion: Individuals perform best when they feel valued and understood. Compassion promotes emotional well-being, increases trust, and builds strong connections between leaders and followers. Without compassion, individuals may feel like just another cog in the machine.
How to Lead with Compassion:
Strengths in Action: Those with Empathy, Developer, or Individualization Strengths can readily recognize and nurture the unique needs of their team members.
Additional Strengths: Harmony (promoting peace and collaboration), Adaptability (meeting people where they are), and Includer (ensuring everyone feels valued and part of the team).
Practical Steps to Show Compassion: Regularly check in on your team’s well-being, acknowledge personal struggles, and celebrate individual and team successes.
The Four Needs of Followers: Stability
Creating Psychological Safety
In times of uncertainty, people look to their leaders for stability. They need to feel secure, knowing that their leader is steady and resilient under pressure.
Why Followers Need Stability: Stability provides reassurance and predictability, reducing anxiety and enabling people to focus on their work. In an unpredictable world, leaders who offer stability create environments where people can thrive without fear of sudden upheaval.
How to Lead with Stability:
Strengths in Action: Leaders with Discipline, Deliberative, or Arranger Strengths excel at creating structure and predictability.
Additional Strengths: Focus (helping teams stay on track), Responsibility (ensuring commitments are upheld), and Analytical (bringing logic and clarity to complex situations).
Practical Steps: Set clear expectations, make sound decisions, and remain calm during challenges. Establish rituals or traditions that create consistency in your leadership.
Leading with Strengths
Every leader possesses a unique blend of CliftonStrengths® that can be harnessed to meet these four needs. By understanding and intentionally applying your Strengths, you can craft a leadership style that is both authentic and effective.
The best leaders uplift people. By providing hope, building trust, showing compassion, and offering stability, you create an environment where individuals thrive. And when your team thrives, so does your leadership impact.
Apply the Four Needs of Followers
Gallup’s research provides a roadmap for action. Using this map metaphor, as a leader, your destinations are the four needs of followers. Strengths are your means of getting there.
Reflect on your Strengths and consider how you can use them to meet the four core needs of your followers. Consider reviewing your team’s reports, such as their Bring-Need reports, to devise ways to meet each individual’s four needs.
Meaningful leadership about taking responsibility for the well-being and growth of those we serve. Now, the challenge is not just to understand these insights but to embody them every day.
Want to dive deeper into Strengths-based leadership? Let’s connect!
Looking for expert Strengths coaching to help your team harness their Strengths? Why not take my two day workshop to become a Strengths Champion Certified Coach®?
Are You Ready to Lead Wiser?
If you’re looking to expand your leadership impact and supercharge your business, explore the Lead Wiser Toolkit.
In this comprehensive resource, you’ll discover 12 insightful infographics designed to help you lead, coach, and champion a strengths-based culture in your organization.
Begin leading wiser by downloading the toolkit here.
