What does it take to make a good – or great – leader? There is more to leadership than having a highly ranked degree or title. It goes without saying that a business’s success is attributed to how well managers, directors, and executives understand and interact with other employees and team members. In addition, leaders must continuously improve and develop in many ways throughout their careers.
In reality, work is unbelievably demanding, which makes it almost impossible to leave time for self-reflection and growth. Below is a list of tips to consider when upping your leadership game in less than no time:
Be positive . As a leader, your actions and behavior set a tone for what is appropriate in the workplace. Exhibit positivity for your team to emulate. Never shy away from offering positive feedback or compliments. Leadership is not about what you do, but what you can inspire and empower others to do – being positive is one way to engage your employees!
Be humble. Make it obvious to share the success of your projects with your team, because success is not created alone. If you make a mistake, always apologize and admit to it. Demonstrate your willingness to ask for help from other resources for answers – even as a leader, you are human, too.
Be passionate. You must demonstrate your commitment to the company, with an attitude of success. Show your team how strongly you believe in what you do and how much you value teamwork. This is the only way to motivate your employees to work towards a common goal. Let your team know that it should not just be mindless task completion. Work is about finding alternatives, thinking outside the box and embrace creativity.
Be understanding. Doing business often involves communicating and dealing with people, whether you like it or not. Leaders must be sensitive to others’ emotions, taking into account different opinions and backgrounds before making any judgments. Be approachable, and give your team your full attention whenever possible. This is not only an effective way to build trust and eliminate confusion among your employees, but revealing emotions also allows you to connect on a deeper, interpersonal level.
Set an example for your employees and coworkers! As John Maxwell puts it,
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
