Avoid thinking people can read your thoughts. Explain exactly how you need a task done, when it must be done, and how you would like it done. Make yourself available for questions. If the instructions are not clear, make it clear that anyone can come talk to you about it.
Try being transparent when issues come up as often as you can. Business problems were normally hidden in the past, but good leaders now do the opposite. What is the reason for that? Communication is key nowadays. Problems will be noticed no matter if you try to hide them. Wouldn't be better for you to be in control of how the story is told? This is the attitude shared by effective leaders.
Take care to avoid doing anything that may appear to be devious or deceitful. If you want others to respect you, you have to be worthy of that respect. If you claim to provide the best service in your particular business category, make sure all your employees understand how to provide the best service.
Take ownership of failures. Even the greatest leader messes up from time to time. Owning up to your mistakes, correcting them and learning from them is a quality of a great leader. It shows that you are humble and mistakes happen. That might not be a stereotypical leader trait, but that can often result in a great deal of loyalty.
The people beneath you judge you by your decisions. They will watch who you delegate responsibilities to, and who you are promoting, hiring and firing. If you aren't fair or responsible, your business will suffer.
Al Zwan the quality entrepreneur
Hiring various kinds of people can boost your business. Diversity in your team can give you wider perspectives. Don't hire a bunch of people who are exactly like you. Doing so stifles innovation. This can be a downfall to any business because of the lack of different ideas.
Listening is a much more important skill than talking. Good leaders know that listening to their employees and to those around them is vitally important. Listen to what people have to say. Listen to complaints as well as accolades. Find out your employees' opinions with regard to your products and customers. You will be shocked at what you learn by listening.
Believe in synergy. Know what your own personal goals require. Also, be clear about your business goals. Your personal goals and the goals of your company should line up. You want to strive for both sets of goals simultaneously. If this isn't possible, you might not be too thrilled about being there, and that will show.
Take responsibility for what you say. As a leader, responsibility for what you say and do always falls on your shoulders. You're the leader of the company and that means whatever you do is going to symbolize the business. If you're not behaving properly, you need to change that. Others cannot fix your mistakes.
Build your team into a strong cohesive unit. Be available to team members to answer questions and offer advice. The people working for you should have an easy time doing their work without having to rely on you too often.
Leaders must have the ability to understand what is possible and what is actually getting done. There is an inverse relationship between the two. Something in your mind must get out of it. Put it down on paper, then your focus can be on the task at hand.
Become a good decision maker. Effective leaders know how to make the best decisions in a matter of moments. Risk taking along with good decision making goes hand in hand. If you are able to make good decisions in short periods of time, others are going to admire your wisdom. Never second-guess yourself. Sometimes the best decisions do not work out the way you assumed they would; however, you can still learn from these decisions.
Be honest yet confident when dealing with others. However, don't think that being arrogant means to be confident. Arrogance will not get you very far. Being a sincere individual enables others to trust you and want to work for you. Insincerity is obvious, so practice speaking and acting with total honesty and sincerity when you interact.
Try not to show favoritism for a certain person's suggestions or ideas. Listen to everyone with the same respect, interest and open-mindedness. Good leaders treat people the way they would like to be treated. Stand by your promises and treat everybody fairly.
You must first act like the leader if you hope to become the leader. Think about your expectations of a good leader and use the information as your model. Dress the part, speak eloquently, and treat your superiors with the respect they deserve. Whether there's anything in it for you, always offer to help out and put in extra effort. When you do, it shows you have the drive and work ethic to be a real leader.
No one wants to be a bad leader. You have to understand what it takes to succeed, as well as what to avoid. Desiring to do what is right and learning all you can will help you to make a difference. The choice is yours, so you need to make good decisions.
