If we recall back into our past, or maybe you are going through it now, let’s face it we’ve all had a manager that was unpleasant to work for, who was always pointing out our flaws and making us hate going to work.
More crucially, some of us may have had the good fortune of working for a terrific boss – a strong leader who appreciated, respected, and motivated us.
Low morale and high employee turnover are common outcomes of poor leadership.
So, what’s the difference between the two?
Why does one of them lead well while the other does not?
- Be a compassionate leader.
Empathy has been named the most important leadership trait.
Unfortunately, many leaders are elevated to their roles based on previous performance or industry credentials, but they have little or no leadership experience.
As a result, a heavy-handed, order-giver with ambiguous expectations and little empathy for his or her staff may emerge.
Low productivity and morale are common outcomes.
Being truthful with your team does not imply that you should become great friends with them.
It entails sharing our common human experience, tearing down defensive barriers, and demonstrating that you, too, are a genuine person.
It helps you get respect by making you appear more approachable.
Are you still in charge?
Yes, but employees are significantly more inclined to provide and accept honest feedback if they are shown empathy and mutual respect.
Remember your team members also have feelings and like you they have problems, understanding them and in some cases hearing them, showing them that you care will go a long way.
- Listen attentively.
Who wouldn’t want their voice to be heard?
A good leader values his or her team members’ opinion, wants to know what makes people tick, and helps them develop and accomplish professional objectives, which goes hand in hand with empathy.
Will you always be in agreement?
Of course not, but expressing your respect and loyalty by actually listening and acting on what you hear can gain you a lot of respect and loyalty.
Is there a disagreement with a coworker?
It should be addressed as soon as feasible.
Is there an emergency in the family?
Provide a mechanism for them to change their work schedule without fear of losing their employment.
Remember that listening to employee input may be really beneficial.
Let them know when they have good ideas!
The more professional a connection you can establish with your employees, the simpler it will be for them to be open about the beneficial changes that need to be implemented.
- Embrace a common goal.
When the soldiers are ready to fight, a good general does not worry whether they will follow or not, everyone knows the stakes and what the are fighting for and who they must follow.
A good leader on any company will do the same and will expect the same.
Every employee should be aware of the significance of their work.
Employees who have a say in the decision-making process understand the motivation behind the organization’s vision and are more ready to support its objectives.
Employees, in other words, back what they helped build.
That’s why learning how to lead will bring people together around a common goal.
- Set a good example for others by embracing change.
Even the most capable leaders can be derailed by change.
In fact, managing change and innovation was identified as the top leadership problem among 1,000 senior executives in a recent research.
Learning to lead through change, whether it’s adopting new rules and procedures, launching a new business model, or adapting to a new CEO’s leadership style, is a vital ability for leaders.
Effective leaders set the norm for how to respond to change in a good and professional manner.
- Develop your audience.
It’s critical to have the support of your teammates.
A leader may build high-performing teams by knowing how different jobs interact with one another and keeping lines of communication open.
Make it clear that you value their contributions.
A dedicated leader provides team members with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to accomplish their duties well.
This should be accomplished through the provision of professional development.
If you sense their potential, you should also provide them opportunity to apply their abilities in new ways or invite them to lead a meeting or project.
They’ll realize that obtaining credit isn’t the only thing on your mind.
- Learn how to deal with setbacks.
Failure is an inevitable part of life.
Your staff will notice how you manage it as a leader.
Anger and pointing fingers are frequently unhelpful.
Instead, if you want to learn how to be a great leader, discuss what went wrong with your team and how things could have been done better to assure success.
Accept responsibility for any role you had in the goal’s failure.
Identify areas that may be improved in the future as a group.
And, when necessary, hold employees accountable — with kindness.
- Set clear and attainable goals for yourself and your team
When employees are penalized for not doing something that was never clearly conveyed, they become irritated.
Effective leaders establish defined goals to be fulfilled, explicit expectations of what will happen if they are or aren’t realized, and a roadmap for getting the task done, rather than just expecting staff to do their duties.
Effective leaders also consider all of the aspects that go into achieving the objectives and ensure that they are feasible.
Employee morale diminishes when they are consistently let down.
Recognizing when goals are completed and offering good feedback, on the other hand, encourages people to keep working hard.
- Continue educating yourself
There is no such thing as a perfect leader, and because change is continual, it is critical that leaders continue to improve their abilities and stay current with industry advancements.
You should analyze your leadership skills, as well as its strengths and limitations, if you want to learn how to become a leader or develop your leadership style.
There are several evaluation tools available to assist you in your endeavor.
It’s time to learn new actions and habits when you’ve identified the areas you’d like to improve.
An accelerated online degree from an online university is a fantastic method to improve your leadership abilities.
A Bachelor of Arts in Human Resources can help you cultivate and demonstrate leadership on the administrative side, while a Master of Business Administration or a Master of Arts in Leadership can help you grow in a leadership role.
All of these programs will assist you in acquiring the leadership skills listed above.