Products and services must be sold and delivered, and money must be made – but successful leaders make their organizations fun places to work while also achieving these goals.
Let’s be totally honest, being a people leader is not easy. Being a good manager requires many skills. Leaders need effective skills in areas such as communication, coaching, motivating and listening. These skills generally get better over time . Simply put, to be an effective leader it takes a certain type of person who exhibits and holds particular traits and is also respected and well liked amongst the organization.
But everyone needs to start somewhere, so we’ve compiled a list of actionable leadership tips. These effective leadership tips will help you groom potential managers in your organization to become great leaders. Some are relatively basic, but serve as important reminders. While others, you may not have considered before.
5 Effective Leadership Tips
Understand the business
A good, effective leader knows the business inside out. They need to be prepared to answer questions from their direct reports that take into consideration the broader goals of the company. From strategy to culture, a good leader needs to know what is happening across the business. Leaders are expected to make informed decisions while confidently providing direction.
To do this they should be spending time with senior leaders and asking them questions on strategy, future business goals and why particular choices have been made. A leader also needs to leverage the talents of their team to support company goals. The more a leader knows, the more they can help their team.
Set goals
No matter what level you’re at – beginner or senior manager – every employee should have goals to strive for and achieve. Goals help to give an employee and future manager a road map that provides direction and purpose in their career. They also help to make sure that employees are working towards the overall organizational goals. Setting specific and measurable goals will help future leaders work towards gaining the tools they need to become an exceptional leader.
Make time for employees
Without a doubt, leadership is a people job. So when an employee needs to talk to their manager, always make sure to set aside the time to make it happen. A good leader will put their work aside to focus on the employee and their needs.
Recognize achievements
Every employee wants to do a good job; and when they do a good job, to receive some type of recognition from their bosses. Unfortunately, few bosses do much in the way of recognizing and rewarding employees for a job well done. But there are many things a good leader can do to celebrate their staff. For major accomplishments, a public acknowledgement at a team meeting or in the company newsletter is one way to recognize staff. Other options include taking staff out to lunch, or by simply saying thank you.
Don’t take It all too seriously
The last and most important tip is to not take it all too seriously. A leader can get so caught up in the weeds and everyday tasks that they forget to actually be a leader. Products and services must be sold and delivered, and money must be made – but successful leaders make their organizations fun places to work while also achieving these goals. Instead of having employees who look for every possible reason to call in sick or to arrive to work late or go home early, organizations that work hard and play hard end up with a more loyal, energized workforce.
