“A good leader leads the people from above them. A great leader leads the people from within them.”–M. D. Arnold
As a leader, your team will naturally look up to you as a guide and as a mentor. That being said, you should be making a conscious effort to support and motivate your team on a daily basis. These 5 skills are the most important for you to master in a leadership position:
Honesty/Integrity
Honesty is one of the most important leadership principles. Being authentic with your team will earn their respect and trust, and a team without a foundation of trust will ultimately fail. A true leader can be honest even when it may be hard to, especially in situations where you must remain ethical. To maintain integrity as a leader, make an active effort to incorporate this as a core value of your team. Remind yourself and your team that the company is dedicated to being honest and open regardless of the situation.
Communication
Communication plays a role in nearly every aspect of a job. As a leader, it’s extremely important to be able to convey your ideas to different groups of people in the workplace. Not only do leaders have to successfully communicate their goals, but they also have to tailor it to who they’re speaking to, whether it be managers, employees, clients, etc. You can improve your communication skills by being an active listener; consider everyone’s thoughts and ideas and not just your own. You should also try to avoid uncertainty and be as clear as possible. Specify your expectations of each project/task and make sure your employees are equipped with everything they need to be successful.
Relationship/Team Building
Being a leader always involves working with a team, and with that comes the importance of strengthening your teams and leading them towards achieving their goals. On top of that, helping to build strong relationships between your team members will ensure a successful environment. To improve relationships among your team, encourage listening and sharing of ideas among all employees. Find similar values among members of your team and build off of them.
Problem-Solving & Decision Making
Every leader will run into situations where they will need to quickly and effectively find the proper solution to a problem. A good leader will evaluate decisions by defining the problem and its cause, considering various approaches, plan the solution, and evaluate its effectiveness after it has been implemented. The best way to improve problem solving skills is to practice the decision-making process and overtime, you will know what solutions are best. Make sure that you identify the root causes of problems when they come up to prevent them in the future. Remember that everyone makes mistakes, and every failed solution can be used as a learning experience!
Getting Over Your Fear of Presenting
Reliability
Every employee, especially a leader, should prove to be reliable in all aspects of their work. Reliability allows for others to come to you for guidance, and helps your team know that they can count on you. You can improve your dependability skills overtime by staying true to your word and following through with your commitments. Be honest about your values and your priorities to build trust.
Overall, improving your leadership skills take time and hard work. Being open and honest with yourself and your employees is the foundation of a strong leader. Keep working towards your goals and enhancing your skills; you will quickly see improvement among your team! For more tips on all things job search, professional development, staffing, and hiring check out our Employee Tips and Employer Tips or contact us at mglenny@franklinprofessionals.com.
