“Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort,” Vince Lombardi
Managing and leading are two very different beasts and require different focuses and skill sets. Managers focus on the day to day, concerning themselves with administration, systems and structures. They tend to rely on control in dealing with staff. Leaders look at the big picture focusing on the strategic decisions and innovations that will create lasting results for an organization. They concern themselves with inspiring and empowering their people to achieving these goals.
Developing your leadership skills requires effort but the payoff can be seen in increased productivity, engagement and overall company performance. The first step is assessing where your skills are now and identifying gaps. From there, you can formalize a development plan (formal/informal learning opportunities).
Here are five proven leadership tips to help get you started on your path to becoming a great leader:
* Never Stay Down
Some of the most successful business leaders experienced plenty of down moments before they hit their prime. Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple was fired at one time. Bruce Springsteen’s first album did not make the charts. Thomas Edison failed over 10,000 times before creating the light bulb. An important skill is acknowledging defeats and moving beyond and above them. Tenacity and desire to be better has always been a skill of great leaders.
* Have a 360 Perspective
Most people have the tendency to move with the pack because everyone else thinks it is the right thing to do. Leaders are not afraid to voice their opinions, but they also are not afraid to admit when they are wrong. The key is to consider things from many perspectives and then make the best decision.
* Engage Others
Real leaders do not just lead the pack; they are actively engaged with them. Those day to day interactions and open sharing of ideas increase trust and overall engagement.
* Be Present
Too many managers are not actively taking part in the day-to-day activities of their staff. Leaders are actively involved with the entire team. Whether in a meeting, at lunch, at functions or just around the office, being part of the team and accessible is a major indication of a leader. General Patton regularly went around and talked to his troops, often getting to know their names and giving them some words of advice.
* Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses
True leaders know both their strengths and weaknesses and are smart enough to surround themselves with people who have the complementary strengths. Leaders can always work to minimize their own shortcomings, but they should not ignore them. Give yourself permission to be your own best self.
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At LePhair Associates we have a tool that can help people become better leaders. The system is called the CheckPoint Feedback System and is a 360-degree survey used to evaluate the effectiveness of leaders. It is a fantastic tool to identify where you or your managers excel and where there is room for growth. It takes into account feedback from direct reports, peers, supervisors and even customers. If your goal is to be or build great leaders, this assessment and the five tips above are a great place to start.