When I think about my leadership style, I sometimes cringe a bit. I do because I think of the people who had to suffer through the evolution of my leadership style. Leadership is something that can be mastered, but after studying organizational management and business psychology for the past 13 years, I know it is something that doesn’t come easily for everyone. But let’s be honest, the choice is truly up to the leader, isn’t it? Developing effective leadership skills and a leading effectively can be learned.
If you want to become a great leader, you need to understand the importance of your team, their work and contributions, and how to respect your team members. They work hard to meet the needs of the company, your objectives, and your requirements. With the right commitment and focus nothing can stand in their way. It comes down to you and how you interact with them and inspire them to succeed. The better you do that, the better the results will be.
Do you share your vision, set goals and communicate with your staff?
Do team members understand the vision of your company – your ideas, short- and long-term goals, the end game? What about how they fit in and contribute to your vision and ideas? You can’t lead your team toward your goals without letting them know what those goals are. They need to know where you’re going and where they’re going too, which is why you will want to share your thoughts and communicate. Share your vision and your objectives and let them know how they’re going to contribute to the success of the company. It’s pretty empowering.
Is the work environment safe?
Does your team feel safe in the work environment? Of course, meeting the physical, safety, and health requirements are the law, but what about creating a safe work environment where opinions other than your own are shared and valued? Hopefully you let them speak up their mind and bring ideas to you. They have a stake in the company when they have input. This motivates people to succeed as individuals and as team members and plays a role in the future success of your company.
Are there opportunities for development?
To remain competitive in the marketplace, your company needs to grow, and your employees need to grow too. Make it easy for employees to evolve, improve, and hone their skills – you’ll be able to attract higher performers from the beginning and you’ll be able to retain them. Even if you’re a very small operation, you’ll want your employees to continue to grow so that your company can too. You should have no problem getting amazing results from them.
Effective leadership is appropriate to emulate
Effective leadership is setting the direction and demonstrating behaviors in the workplace that employees can [and will want to emulate]. Leaders [not bosses] create a culture, set expectations and goals, and guide their employees. They elicit appropriate behavior through strong leadership rather than ruling with an iron fist or reminding people who’s boss.
Transformational leaders are influential and motivating – they stimulate intellect and approach people respectfully. They champion learning and play a vital role in developing peoples’ dynamic strengths and abilities. Transformational leaders foster innovation and creativity and encourage intellect and autonomy.
Leaders’ strengths and shortcomings
Every leader uses different methods to ensure the success of their company. Some use a top down approach, while others are friendly and provide as much guidance as possible. It’s up to you to choose your style, however, focus on motivating your team and on making it easy for them to grow and evolve while achieving results. You may not be the best leader now, but you can evolve. In the long run, it will be worth it!