If you contemplate that by sitting in a corner office and delegating tasks you will be fulfilling your leadership commitments, then you are mistaken because compelling leadership is more than that. So the question arises, what makes a great leader? Everybody has a unique conception of a 'great leader', but according to our perspective, a proficient leader is the one who guides, motivates, and drives others.
There is no surprise that as a leader that faces multiple challenges in the ever-changing world in which we live, you are constantly experiencing some demanding circumstances, both pragmatically and emotionally. While you are enduring a leadership position you can often ask yourself: “Am I becoming the leader that my team needs?, Am I leading properly my team?, “How can I improve the performance of my team? or how can I acquire the skills that my team needs of me and how can I acquire them?”. Congratulations you are on the right track to becoming the leader that your team needs to perform at its best. A great leader needs to be constantly improving their skills to effectively address the new challenges that emerge.
Almost 58% of all U.S. corporations articulate that their top tactical approach is minimizing their existing leadership skill gaps. And that’s not it, various corporations plan to intensify their overall outlay on leadership development programs in the following years, now considering professional growth as a central module of their organizational approach and understanding that having better talent equals better performance.
Why does your team need a good leader?
Modern analysis perceives good leadership skills to be a noteworthy element of success. With compelling leadership being sought after, enhancing your leadership skills can empower you and your team as a competitive lead, since, opposing to widely-held belief, you don’t have to be a C-level executive to be thought-out a good leader. Steve Jobs, the most innovative entrepreneur, who made Apple and every task he undertook a huge success pointed out: “It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.” That’s right, a good leader inspires the team to lead because cooperative action achieves more outstanding things.
But, what are the characteristics of a good leader?
Some people might think that great leaders are born. Others are certain that proficient leaders are made along the way as they gain experience. The reality is, that no handbook or paradigm will offer you all the tactics you need to become a proficient leader. In the end, this proficiency will be something you learn along the way and that you’ll master as you incorporate your style. But one thing is certain is that a great leader encompasses great soft skills.
Reflect on a few of the most significant leaders in your sphere. What shapes them to stand apart as a good leader? You will observe there is possibly not one characteristic or quality shared by all the figures. So, what are those skills that will make you a good leader?
1. Show Appreciation For Your Teammates
Around 37% of teams contemplate appreciation and acknowledgment as the most significant thing a leader can offer to support them as they work to accomplish and excel in their tasks. Quoting the words of Stephen Covey “When you show appreciation toward others, their defensive energy goes down, and positive energy replaces it. That’s when you can get more creative in solving problems.”
Appreciating the performance of your team members will provide you with opportunities to connect with them and will also thieve a better sense of belonging that will ultimately lead to a positive outcome.
2. Engage in Open Communication
Form a workplace setting and set some ground rules that encourage openness and trustworthiness in all facets of communication. Motivate your team members to share their opinions and communicate about the problems they encounter. Request and heed their feedback. Most importantly, make sure that your team members can talk to you. According to research made by Forbes, around 82% of the workers don’t trust their supervisor to express the truth. So, habitually talking with your team about their personal and professional goals, as well as their concerns, will form trustworthiness among you and your team. Engaging in open communication will lead to better leadership traits, and result in loyalty and mutual admiration.
3. Encourage Personal and Professional Growth
When you encourage the personal and professional growth of your people, they will be investing themselves to bring about proficiency. Imagine a corporate setting where every person knows that their prime interests count, where employees are aware that their leader has regard for their visions, goals, well-being, and overall security, if this occurs, teams retort by being dedicated and promised. This will pave your way toward being a great leader.
4. Be Clear with your Expectations and Set Clear Goals
Depicting good leadership skills is not everyone’s cup of tea. But what makes a great leader is the ability to set clear goals and clear expectations for their team. This will provide direction to you and your team. Because the lack of clear goals and expectations may leave your team wondering where their influence rests. Tony Hsieh, the CEO of Zappos said, “You can’t expect your employees to exceed the expectations of your customers if you don’t exceed the employees’ expectations of management. That’s the contract.”
5. Be Empathetic
Empathy is the scarcest and the most powerful leadership trait. Being an empathetic leader will always help you gain the trust of your employees. When you sincerely attend to employees’ difficulties and alleviate anxieties, you will earn their respect and loyalty. Take care of your team member’s workplace requirements and offer the necessary care. Influential leadership writer Simon Sinek defines empathy as the most significant gadget in a leader’s toolbox. Only saying, “Is everything OK?” proves you look after your team.