Being in a position of leadership can seem very exciting at first – think of all the power you have right at your fingertips! But along with power comes great responsibility, responsibility which can quickly seem overwhelming. By taking the time to learn about traits of effective and fair leaders, you will be doing your company a great service.
Leaders can find the talent in their team. It should always be apparent to you who would be most suited for the job you need done. This is important when needing to hire or contract for small jobs.
Learn your employee’s names. A great leader takes the time to learn the names of his or her most immediate staff, and even the names of the top performers under them. It shows them that you care enough about them to know them not just as a worker, but as a real person.
Be open and honest as soon as there are any issues. Hiding problems in a business used to be the norm; now, the best leaders are more open. Why is that? Today’s world is highly communicative. No one can hide a problem forever, eventually it will be exposed. So, why not be the person controlling the message instead of reacting to it? Being a true leader means you are on top of that message.
Do what you can so you’re easy to approach. Some leaders think that making people fear them is the ideal way to show they’re in charge. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you utilize that strategy, you are likely to find that it is an uphill battle to get those who report to you to respect you. Let your employees know that you support them, since you have the responsibility to see that they perform well.
If you want to be a good business leader, try to treat everything as being your personal fault. This is ultimately about assuming personal responsibility for all that happens in your work. Never blame coworkers or the economy. Understand that at the end of the day, those who created their own fate are the ones eating dinner out at nice restaurants.
Being a good leader means you have to be a good listener when talking with your subordinates. By listening to your employees, you can learn new ways to reach goals. Let your team know what is expected and then listen to their suggestions.
Integrity and leadership are one in the same. You must show integrity by making the right decisions whether people are looking or not. If your integrity is lacking, the trust of others will surely prove elusive. Leading with integrity generates trust, loyalty and respect in your underlings.
Caring for others is the heart of great leadership. A leader should never look down on others or view followers as a tool to be used to get results. A true leader never has to bully others to get results. Genuine concern about the welfare of others leads to trust, the foundation of loyalty.
As a leader it is your responsibility to identify the highest performing workers and ensure that the company retains their valuable talents. Look for ways to reward their performance. This can take the form of additional compensation, a bonus, special recognition or additional freedom or responsibilities in their daily work.
Establish clear communication channels. Your team should always be fully informed of every aspect of the project, including any deadlines that need to be met. Having good communication with your team will help establish your credibility as a leader and gaining their support. Your team should also feel free to contact you with questions or constructive feedback.
Be a prime example. Never take an authoritative approach because of your title. In order for your employees to do the things necessary that makes them great, you need to be the one who sets this positive example for them to follow. People hate hypocrites. Be someone who your subordinates can respect.
Strive to become the type of leader who has a strong achievement motive. An achievement motive is the pleasure and pride you experience upon completing a project or assignment. In other words, you aren’t working to achieve a monetary award or favorable performance review. Instead, your goal is to succeed just for the sake of success. This type of motivation in leaders is highly contagious and inspirational in groups.
Learn the difference between a good leader and a transformational leader. As a good leader, you are successful in your efforts to coordinate and direct others. As a transformational leader, you coordinate and direct others in ways that are capable of bringing about significant changes in the organization. The effects of good leadership are short-term, whereas transformational leadership is strategic in the long run.
Besides recognizing your employees talents, you must also know your own strengths and weaknesses. Evaluate your own abilities often and work to improve on those areas that are weaker. Become a better manager by attending leadership training courses, continuing your formal education and adopting a mentor who is a successful business leader.
Making good decisions is important to being a strong leader. When a question or problem is right in front of you, evaluate all of your options before deciding on the best course of action. Seemingly small decisions could affect your company for years to come. You can accept suggestions and delegate responsibility but make the final choice yourself.
Leaders can truly make or break a company. You have a lifelong responsibility to learn as much as possible about what it means to be a successful leader. Continue your education and do everything in your power to learn more about the nuts and bolts of effective and dynamic leadership.
