Being a leader is difficult. It's difficult to always be on top of things and always have the answers or the right answer for a situation. Just as much, as a leader, we're constantly in front of those we lead so awareness is key more than anything else. I have compiled a list of the things I've learned as a leader and recruiter along with things I've researched from reputable sites such as Entrepreneur.com and Forbes.
1. Lead by example. The only way to effectively lead is by setting the right example. No one likes a hypocrite. Before saying something to those we lead, we must first ask ourselves if we are doing the things we are asking others to do, if we are doing it correctly and efficiently, and if we could be doing more to make our example the best it can be. One of the best things I learned from being a leader is that those we lead will have 20% of our good habits and 80% of our bad. Though I disagree with the percentages the concept rings true. Those we lead will choose the things we do poorly often because they are a short cut to the bigger picture, they take less time or less effort. There can always be too little effort exerted for a task or situation but no one will every tell us as leaders we've gone too far above and beyond.
2. Have a mentor. Before entering the business world I was not a leader by any means. I was pretending to be a leader. A large contribution to why I became a better leader came from those that mentored me. Not only did I let them come to me to offer help, but I took the initiative to seek my own help with things I knew I was struggling with or wanted to know more about. Always seek help from those that are qualified, those that have been in your position in the past and have had a similar situation happen to them. They are the best to learn from, they've been through it and come out on the other side.
3. Have a no excuses mentality. For a leader there is no reason a task or goal isn't accomplished or reached. Leaders find a way no matter what to achieve what they have said they would or what they have set their mind to. This goes hand in hand with leading by example. Most of those that we lead will provide any excuse for why work isn't completed. For me, I would just prefer the truth. If work wasn't completed by those I was assigned to lead, rather than providing me with a laundry list of excuses, I preferred for them to tell me the truth. As a leader, these reasons are so much more valuable. I can teach and mentor based on these reasons rather than an excuse. We all fall short sometimes so it is my job as a leader to minimize the shortcomings to make a more efficient team.
4. Be solution oriented. It is easy to focus on the problems that arise during a day. A true leader will focus more on how to solve the problem. Innovation is key. Thinking outside of the box will help find solutions that fulfill the shortcomings of convention. Trust your instincts, if you think something may or may not work, try it and make adjustments as you go. Being a leader in business is about trial and error. What may work for you will not work for others and vice versa. Many times when I am having a problem, I will find out what others have done in the situation and put together the things I liked from all of them to form my own solution.
5. See the value in those you lead. Everyone on your team has something to offer. They all have different ideas and different talents that could lend themselves to situations you may run in to. Asking those you lead for advice does not make you a poor leader. It shows those on your team that you respect their abilities and want to utilize their talents. This will propel your leadership forward by showing your people you pay attention to their strengths. Most other employers or managers will not acknowledge individual strengths. Be the leader that focuses on the value of your employees.
6. Everyone has goals, focus on the goals of those you lead. Everyone likes to be cared about in their work environment. They spend 40 hours a week in the workplace. Be the leader to sit down with team members to determine their goals. Promoting a goal oriented environment allows your team to be more productive. It also means continuous growth for everyone in the team. As a leader, you probably have goals of your own. Most of these goals regarding your business will be affected by the individual goals set by your team. You will reach your goals when they reach theirs. This will also increase your teams overall satisfaction with you and your company.
7. If things aren't being done properly, it's probably due to lack of teaching. I found more often than not, if someone on my team didn't know something, most everyone on my team didn't know it. This was the same with regular day to day tasks. If tasks aren't being accomplished or being accomplished correctly it is usually due to lack of training rather than lack of will by the team. Take a look at why things aren't getting done properly to determine the reasons. Continuous teaching will also keep this problem from occurring or reoccurring. Many times when things are being done wrong it is because I, as the leader, had not taught it properly or didn't monitor that it was being done correctly. Awareness is key. This is also true for your team members. They may not know something, even if you know you've said it before. Reconsider how you say it again. They may need to hear it differently or see it again to really determine how to accomplish something.
This list is by no means the only things it takes to be a great leader. Everyone has their advice as to what can make someone better. These are just a few things I've found that helped me accomplish more with my team and to make sure I was bringing my A-game to my company everyday.
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