“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” –Jack Welch
Being a leader is about more than just showing people the way, it is also about living the way. Embodying the type of person you want to surround yourself with is a great way to lead by example. There are many qualities that a leader holds. In this post, you will learn about the different characteristics a leader encompasses and how they can be used to create a better team of employees.
1. Communication Skills
Being able to communicate clearly and honestly is an important skill every leader needs in their tool belt. Communication is key to gaining a rapport with your team. Rapports between leaders and their teams promotes productivity and efficiency. Also, open communication is the best way to designate achievable goals within the group. It will also encourage your team to share ideas, initiatives, and raise concerns. Allowing your employees to give feedback makes them feel heard and appreciated and will ultimately help with turnover rates and work productivity.
2. Encouraging Growth
There are many other ways to become a great leader of a team and one of them is encouraging growth. Being invested in your employees’ success and growth is paramount to being a successful leader. Setting goals and allowing your employees to overcome challenges is a great way to encourage growth and boost morale. People gain self-esteem and satisfaction out of conquering a challenge or task. Not only this, but they also obtain new skills and unlock sides of themselves that they may not have known existed.
3. Give Direct Feedback
Giving direct feedback to your employees is important for being a better leader. The feedback should include what your employees are doing right and deserve praise on, as well as what they need to work on. Instead of giving vague pats on the back when a team member does something great, explain to them how their hard work helps the company. Be sure to also speak honestly and clearly when giving feedback on what the employee needs to improve on. This helps them to understand what needs to be done and how they can achieve it. 4. Ask for Feedback on Your Leadership Skills
Feedback is not just meant for the team but for the leader as well. Not only does asking for feedback benefit you, the leader, but it makes the team feel as though they have a voice as well. You will grow as a leader by listening to other’s feedback, both positive and negative. Taking constructive criticism shows your team that you are truly there to support them and listen to their needs. A recent Gallup study found that “50% of 7272 surveyed professionals had quit their job - put in notice and walked out - because of a bad manager”. That being said, showing your employees that you can grow and change the things that need to be changed can help turnover rates and boost productivity.
5. What’s Your Motivation?
Take some time to understand your own motivation for being a leader. Is it for the money? Or is your motivation to help people grow in their careers? Whatever you decide is your motivation will show in your leadership. Having a clear idea of what motivates you to lead will
help you stay focused as well as inspire others to follow their motivations as well. To find what motivates you, you have to look inward and think about how you got to where you are now, and what will help you and your team get to where you want to be.
Incorporating these skills into your leadership style will help you to be an inspiring leader and build a productive and efficient team. These skills can help you create future leaders and self starters as well as mitigate high turnover rates. As the leader, you are the best example your team has to look up to and show them what is expected. Being the person you want to surround yourself with will attract and retain the right people for your team. Stay motivated and lead by example.
References:
Amiri, Michael. “Bad Bosses: The Cost of High Turnover from Bad Management.” Linkedin, 11 Mar. 2022, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/bad-bosses-cost-high-turnover-from-management-michael-amiri-msc-. Accessed 20 Apr. 2023.
