Entrepreneur defines leadership as “an influence that maximizes the efforts of others toward the achievement of a greater good.” A good leader is able to not only manage their own work and the work of their employees, but they are also able to make sure that their team is working in a functional, unified manner. A strong leader should be assertive, adaptable, intelligent, and conscientious.
A leader needs to be able to inspire, empower, and develop their team in a positive way. A leader that is truly valued by their team is enthusiastic, genuine, passionate, and energetic.
It’s important for a leader to care about more than achieving goals, but to also take time for each member of their team and to help them fulfil their potential. The job can be tough, and that’s why it never hurts to take all of the advice that you can and use every tip to your advantage.
#1 listen to your team members
When you’re leading a team, the feedback that your members give you is very important. Communication is key for most situations, and listening to your team members will help you understand their plights and encourage them to work harder since they will feel more valued.
By building an environment where people feel safe to share their ideas, you’ll find that you’re never short on new and innovative solutions. Be sure that you’re listening and not just hearing. Give them your full attention and focus on what they have to say.
#2 respect is earned
You will have to earn the respect of your team members in order to have a well-functioning team. It’s been said by Hap Klopp, the founder of North Face, that “people will only work for a person that they respect, and otherwise they will be working for themselves.”
You can earn the respect of your team by being consistent, following through on your commitments, being straightforward and honest, and putting your team first.
#3 be concise when making decisions
There’s a difference between a decision that is hard to make and a decision that is just uncomfortable. Most of the decisions that you have to make aren’t really hard, you will know what the right thing to do is, but executing the right decision may be uncomfortable.
You shouldn’t delay a decision just because this might be the case. Once you know what the right decision is and you recognize that it really is an easy choice, you can focus your time and effort on executing the decision.
#4 stay positive and kind
There’s never really a reason that you should not be positive and kind to a person. Being positive and kind to everyone will have a positive impact on your leadership, your team, and general work environment.
Even when the situation is bad, staying positive and kind is the best option, rather than getting upset or angry. You might slip up from time to time, but you should certainly try to maintain a positive and kind leadership style.
#5 know that you aren’t perfect
No one is perfect, and that includes you. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t strive for perfection.
You don’t want to become complacent by thinking that you are perfect. And you don’t want to become unproductive by thinking that you will never reach perfection. So know that even though you can’t be perfect, you can still try your best. It’s not all about churning out product and enforcing deadlines.
Sometimes it’s best to take your time and make sure that things are done right. This way, you can be happy with the successes of yourself and of your team while always staying motivated to continue doing better.
#6 build strong relationships
The people that you interact with on a daily basis are critical to your success, so build your relationships with them. These connections will expand your opportunities and reinforce your stature.
Take the time out of your day to connect with people, respect their opinions, and form strong relationships that will last.
#7 help everyone reach their goals
It’s not just about the goals of the team. Individuals matter, too. A leader that cares about each of their team members is an invaluable one.
Your team members may want to better themselves, but not know how to start or what to do to reach their career goals. You’ve been through it before. Take the time to help them figure out exactly what they want to do and what goals they want to reach, and then help them get there.
#8 to be a good leader, you have to be more than just a manager
Managers manage, but leaders lead. A manager is given a group of people to oversee. But it takes a true leader to inspire a group of people to follow them. In the battle of manager versus leader, the winner is clear. A leader wins every time.