It’s not always easy to be a great leader. While some personality traits naturally bring strong people to the forefront of organizations, leadership skills are a learned quality that must be developed over time and through an abundance of practice.
Title or job description does not automatically indicate a person’s leadership abilities. A true leader moves people emotionally; they have the necessary values and problem-solving skills to motivate others to perform. Becoming a great leader is a lifelong process. Ways to become a great leader include:
- Recognizing Others
Take a moment each day to recognize the work and accomplishments of your team. The simple gesture of saying “thank you” can affect others on many levels. Verbally appreciating employees is highly motivating; you’re affirming that they’re special and that the work they’re doing is making a difference in the organization. Recognition takes little effort, boosts morale and, best of all, it’s free!
- Leading By Example
If you talk the talk, you must walk the walk. Telling your employees to work hard or think creatively, and not doing so yourself, can greatly deter your leadership efforts. Don’t instill a double standard amongst the ranks; if you want them to perform and excel, you must be willing to demonstrate your ability to meet and exceed organizational expectations.
- Supporting Your Team
Good managers support their team through the good, the bad and the ugly. Employees take more creative risks and feel more confident in their abilities when they know they have a manager who backs them up and proactively promotes their initiatives. Consistent support provides an open channel to help your missions become successful.
- Listen More, Talk Less
Leaders have a tendency to take charge, as providing guidance is an innate quality of leadership. It’s easy to take over and control a conversation, but it rarely gets the results you want. A true leader sits back, listens, processes and responds. Listening is respectful; it indicates that the other person’s thoughts and ideas matter and that you’re fully engaged in what they’re saying.
- Never Quit
Win or lose, great leaders never quit. While your chosen course of action might not yield the outcome you want, you cannot crumble under pressure. Brainstorm fresh ideas and change course; a true leader never loses sight of the finish line.
There are many challenges in business today; great leaders use their abilities to turn challenges into opportunities. Through hands-on experience and continuous learning, you’ll develop key leadership skills to guide your team and your organization to success.
This guest post was provided by Joe Schembri who works with University Alliance and submitted on behalf of University of Notre Dame. Notre Dame offers leadership skills training courses in addition to business administration and negotiation courses. To learn more about Notre Dame’s certificate programs visit www.NotreDameOnline.com
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