Many people say that great leaders are simply born, but in our opinion they must be grown. While someone can start out with the capability for great leadership, they will not achieve greatness without the skill set and willingness to move forward. Here, we have compiled some expert tips on what it takes to become a great leader. Use this as part of your educational component, and start to grow your leadership abilities.
The future is the focus of a great leader. You should be able to anticipate things before they occur, so you can handle anything that gets thrown your way. Obviously, you won't always know what the future holds, but with learning and practice, your gut can steer you correctly more often than you think. Repeat to yourself what specific goals you have in mind for the upcoming year, then have a plan to accomplish them.
When you're a good leader, you should quickly see the talent potential in other people. When you look for assistance, it needs to be easy for you to pick who would benefit you most. This applies to hiring and contracting people to do small jobs for you.
Be confident in a decision before you share it with others. If you look indecisive, that will cause those beneath you to be indecisive as well. Not only that, but indecision causes others to be able to try to take your position. Instead, deliberate in private before you make any announcements.
A good leader, or manager, will go out of his or her way to get to know employees better. Not just about work-related topics, but about their outside activities, family and interests. Employees appreciate it when their leaders acknowledge them in ways that don't pertain to work. This makes the relationship a little more personal.
If you have an employee that goes above and beyond the call of duty, do not hesitate to give them extra praise and rewards. Even though it may seem like you are playing favorites, you are giving them what they deserve. be open with other employees about it so they are aware of what rewards come with hard work.
Ensure your team feels that you are approachable. Intimidation is a tactic too many leaders use today. This is not a good policy, and you will find it difficult to earn their respect. Communicate your availability to help employees sort through difficult issues and obstacles in their jobs.
A great idea for anyone in a leadership role to try is to periodically write an "open letter" to the team members, or workforce. In this letter, you can acknowledge good work, overall performance and show your appreciation for all they do. There is nothing like a little praise to boost morale.
Be a communicator. Communication is a major aspect of what makes great leadership. If you can't communicate your goals and vision, then what is there for your employees to follow at all? If you have a tendency to "loan wolf" at work, break out of that habit and begin communicating with your teams.
In order to be an effective leader, you need to stay in touch with your emotions. Do not allow yourself to make any of your positive traits turn negative. For example, if you are normally a very confident leader, do not allow added pressure to turn you into someone that is overly arrogant.
Real leaders are willing to learn. Many great leadership skills don't just occur from a sudden flash of insight or a great epiphany. Great ideas can come to anybody, but good leaders study. Try reading some books on how to be a good leader, going to seminars, and talking to colleagues to see what works best for them. It can take a long time, but the more knowledge you have about proper leadership skills, the better yours can become.
Be willing to accept feedback. Sometimes employees feel uncomfortable approaching a superior with problems or ideas unless prompted. Make the process more streamlined overall by seeking out opinions and suggestions from your employees. Try to keep an open door policy, and be willing to listen when your employees have something to say, even if you don't agree with the complaint.
All work-forces, or teams, have issues from time to time. As a leader, it is important that you deal with, and try to solve, these issues in clicking here a timely, and satisfactory manner that benefits both you, and your team. Try creating a committee that will help you to identify, and prioritize, team issues. Then, enlist their help in finding solutions for these issues.
Accepting blame, even when it isn't your fault, is part of being a good leader. You should act as a shield for your employees, and defend them from attacks by upper management. You should also be willing to take the blame from your customers when something goes wrong. Use these opportunities to study the situation and ensure it doesn't happen again in the future.
Stay confident as you deal with others. Remember that confidence is not about being arrogant. There is no trust generated through arrogance. Sincerity gleans trust and confidence from those who work under you. However, insincerity will make the workplace a much more difficult place to lead.
Learn the difference between a good leader and a transformational leader. As a good leader, you are successful in your efforts to coordinate and direct others. As a transformational leader, you coordinate and direct others in ways that are capable of bringing about significant changes in the organization. The effects of good leadership are short-term, whereas transformational leadership is strategic in the long run.
Get to know a little about your employees personal lives. While you don't have to delve deep into their darkest secrets, remembering a birthday or offering condolences to an employee with a sick child will go a long way toward building a relationship with that person. Everyone wants to know you are capable of viewing them as a human being, and acting as a caring leader can help you to create that impression.
Set examples that your employees can follow. If your emotions are up and down, then the emotions of your team will be as well. If you are a procrastinator or aren't completely honest, they will replicate your habits. You will only earn respect and trust if you give them these things.
Powerful leaders are humble people that instill the right values in others and teach the right knowledge. In order to be a successful leader, you need to remember what has been described to you here. You can provide inspiration and truth to people and help give them direction that they need.
coulon63shepheard Community Member 
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