Being a successful leader isn’t an ability that all of us are born with, some just have it but those who don’t can learn how to hone their leadership and management skills to be successful. It doesn’t matter at what level you are working, whether you are manager of a team of 4 in a small factory or if you are a CEO of a major corporation, the core skill set remains the same. For those of you out there wishing to improve your leadership skills then here are some tips to help you become the best you can be, read on and try to implement any skills that you see, that perhaps you don’t already possess.
Gaining Respect
Gaining respect amongst your employees is the most important part of leadership, you need a team below you who will share your vision and work with you to achieve your goals. Respect, like many believe, can’t be gained by shouting and barking at your team or isolating yourself and believing that you can achieve everything alone. There are times where a tough stance is required but the key to gaining respect comes from creating boundaries. If you are over friendly and relaxed with your team it is unlikely that you will gain their respect and so a careful balance must be maintained between firm and fair. Remember that your team don’t necessarily have to like you, but they must respect you if you wish to be successful.
Sharing and Accepting Creativity
As a leader, your team will look to you for the path forward, it is in these moments that you must be forward-thinking and creative. The responsibility falls squarely on your shoulders to drive change and innovation however, this does not always need to come directly from you. For example Charles Phillips is CEO of Infor and considered one of the tech industries leading lights because he has always pushed the envelope when it comes to creativity. It is also important that you give your staff members the opportunity to be creative, take their ideas on board and communicate with them. Not only will this yield great ideas that perhaps you hadn’t considered but it will also give your team the confidence to express themselves and the will to buy into future ideas.
Staying on the Pulse
If you wish to achieve success in leadership then it is vital that you are fully up to date with all that is going on both within your industry and within your team. Information is key and the only way that you can get a step ahead of your competitors is by keeping track of what they are up to. Speaking daily with your team and receiving regular feedback by way of appraisals is also key in keeping up to date with your team. If you stay ahead of the game both inside and outside your company then you will be fully armed to push towards success.