Being a strong leader is one of the biggest flexes you will ever have in your career.
Strong leaders possess specific hard and soft skills required to empower their employees and turn them into great leaders one day. Effective leadership starts with being assertive, adaptable, fair, and, most importantly, inspiring.
Be enthusiastic, passionate, energetic, and, above all, genuine. You cannot only be concerned about achieving goals – you also need to care about helping every team member reach their full potential.
There are several strategies you can employ to become a better leader. Below are five of the simplest ones that you can follow to achieve your leadership goals this year:
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Honesty Is the Best Policy
Creating an open line of communication with your employees or team members is crucial to establishing transparency in the workplace.
When you are responsible for a team of workers, you need to always be straightforward and honest. Your behavior is a direct reflection of the company’s values and ethics.
People with honest leadership language are better able to customize their approach to each team member and their situation. Apart from being a great listener, some of the best leaders in the world are genuine above everything else.
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Show and Do Not Tell
Effective leadership is built on a stable foundation.
Instead of barking orders at your team, take the time to show them what is required. Coach your team members without punishing them unnecessarily or manipulating them to do what you want.
Getting the job done as a leader is important, but how you get that job done is more important. If your approach is too controlling, you will not get the response or level of engagement from your team that you are looking for.
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Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses
At the end of the day, we are all human.
We make mistakes and we learn from them (hopefully). If you do not know what your strengths and weaknesses are as a leader, you will not be able to manage your team effectively.
Your personality type and whether you are introverted or extroverted will dictate your leadership style, so do not be afraid to dig a little deeper into that subject.
Can introverts be leaders? The answer is yes. Introverts and extroverts make excellent leaders for different reasons.
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Adopt A Positive Attitude
That does not mean you should always be smiling -although a friendly face is more approachable!
Adopting a positive attitude will make you a better leader because you will see opportunities instead of challenges and you will find the silver lining to every situation. When people are inclined to have a positive mindset, their productivity levels automatically go up.
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Encourage Autonomy
Being an autonomy-supportive leader allows your team members to solve their problems. That level of ownership and accountability will make them better workers, and it helps them cultivate a better sense of responsibility.
You will always know you are an effective leader when your team can excel without you. Leadership is not a one-way street, so always be open to suggestions and constructive criticism from your team.
By following the above tips, you can focus on finding new and exciting ways to inspire and motivate your team – leading them to greatness.