Sound Advice About Leadership I've Learned Over The Years
In my life time I have encountered many great leaders, some in person and others through books and other forms of media (check out Life Leadership for top-notch leadership materials). They come in all shapes, sizes, cultural, spiritual and political backgrounds. So, how can you envision yourself being more of a leader in life? Well, keep reading for some sound advice on how to lead and excel in different areas of life :-)
Let's assume you're a business owner of sorts... the first thing I'd recommend is that you hire people who will advance your business goals. Preferably, this means people who are smart (smarter than you is ideal), can solve problems, and most importantly, have some experience in your business field. Make sure you check references and do proper research so that you don't get scammed by someone with a fake resume and a silver tongue.
Keep in mind to never let good talent go to waste. If someone is earning huge profits for your company, be sure to promote them, give them a raise, or, if you aren't in a position to do those things, recommend the person to someone who is. If you fail to do this, you might find that the employee has left for your competitor.
Focus on working well with people and the people will focus more on the work. Encourage and inspire coworkers. Don't micro-manage, instead let the team do the work they are tasked with.
Stick with your goal. One way that leaders tend to fail is that they "switch sides" when things get tough. Try to stick with the goals you've established, and do what you can to stay on one path until completion. You may have to eventually change paths, but do so carefully and avoid doing it too much. Constantly changes paths can make you appear confused and undetermined to others.
Empower your employees. Leadership isn't just about decision making. It's also about knowing when to give up the power to your trusted colleagues. When you let them make decisions, you are helping to build their loyalty to the company. They'll feel respected, and most importantly, wanted. That's a big thing for the health of your business.
Be open to new ideas, perspectives, and ways of doing things. Many companies want to constantly repeat something that has proven successful for them. There is little wrong with that, but inadvertent leaders try putting too much effort into one thing that worked. Thoughtful leadership should acknowledges success, while also recognizing that there are ways to improve.
Good leaders must also cross the finishing line no matter what. You hear many "leaders" brag about their awesome projects, but guess what? Most don't actually finish what they started. Those that don't finish often lose the confidence of their clients and even their own teammates. The point? Set goals, define and see your tasks through to completion. Remember that it's not finished until it's finished. Get 'er done!
A good leader also helps bring out the best in others. If you try to micro-manage every little detail in your business, you won't have time or mental capacity to see the bigger picture. Having trustworthy employees/contractors/team members who can lead others will give you the chance to delegate responsibilities as your company continues to grow.
Learn how to laugh. Yes, you've got a serious job with a lot of responsibilities, but leadership isn't born out of tension and stress. Sometimes you need to learn how to lighten the mood. Not just for yourself, but for your employees too. If you've hit some rough patches, it's your responsibility as a leader to help your team get out of it.
Remember that no matter how much you care for a business you work for or own, many of your subordinates are just there for a paycheck. This means that their daily behavior will often just subconsciously mimic and even amplify your own. That means that your good mood and passion can be contagious. On the other hand, so can your malaise and stupidity.
One principle of successful leadership is to consider all points of view. You need to examine situations from the perspective of others. Even though you might not agree with another's point of views, show respect and attentively listen as this perspective is shared with you. Never be close-minded to new information or new ideas.
The world is constantly changing and a goo leader needs to be flexible enough to handle that. You cannot break down every time there is a change in the way you know how to do things. There are opportunities to learn new things all of the time, and you should take advantage of this.
How do you want to define yourself in your profession? No matter what you do in life, you want to be able to have authority and confidence. Leaders are important in every role because leaders know when to serve correctly. So make sure you keep in mind the tips that you've just found.
Let's assume you're a business owner of sorts... the first thing I'd recommend is that you hire people who will advance your business goals. Preferably, this means people who are smart (smarter than you is ideal), can solve problems, and most importantly, have some experience in your business field. Make sure you check references and do proper research so that you don't get scammed by someone with a fake resume and a silver tongue.
Keep in mind to never let good talent go to waste. If someone is earning huge profits for your company, be sure to promote them, give them a raise, or, if you aren't in a position to do those things, recommend the person to someone who is. If you fail to do this, you might find that the employee has left for your competitor.
Focus on working well with people and the people will focus more on the work. Encourage and inspire coworkers. Don't micro-manage, instead let the team do the work they are tasked with.
Stick with your goal. One way that leaders tend to fail is that they "switch sides" when things get tough. Try to stick with the goals you've established, and do what you can to stay on one path until completion. You may have to eventually change paths, but do so carefully and avoid doing it too much. Constantly changes paths can make you appear confused and undetermined to others.
Empower your employees. Leadership isn't just about decision making. It's also about knowing when to give up the power to your trusted colleagues. When you let them make decisions, you are helping to build their loyalty to the company. They'll feel respected, and most importantly, wanted. That's a big thing for the health of your business.
Be open to new ideas, perspectives, and ways of doing things. Many companies want to constantly repeat something that has proven successful for them. There is little wrong with that, but inadvertent leaders try putting too much effort into one thing that worked. Thoughtful leadership should acknowledges success, while also recognizing that there are ways to improve.
Good leaders must also cross the finishing line no matter what. You hear many "leaders" brag about their awesome projects, but guess what? Most don't actually finish what they started. Those that don't finish often lose the confidence of their clients and even their own teammates. The point? Set goals, define and see your tasks through to completion. Remember that it's not finished until it's finished. Get 'er done!
A good leader also helps bring out the best in others. If you try to micro-manage every little detail in your business, you won't have time or mental capacity to see the bigger picture. Having trustworthy employees/contractors/team members who can lead others will give you the chance to delegate responsibilities as your company continues to grow.
Learn how to laugh. Yes, you've got a serious job with a lot of responsibilities, but leadership isn't born out of tension and stress. Sometimes you need to learn how to lighten the mood. Not just for yourself, but for your employees too. If you've hit some rough patches, it's your responsibility as a leader to help your team get out of it.
Remember that no matter how much you care for a business you work for or own, many of your subordinates are just there for a paycheck. This means that their daily behavior will often just subconsciously mimic and even amplify your own. That means that your good mood and passion can be contagious. On the other hand, so can your malaise and stupidity.
One principle of successful leadership is to consider all points of view. You need to examine situations from the perspective of others. Even though you might not agree with another's point of views, show respect and attentively listen as this perspective is shared with you. Never be close-minded to new information or new ideas.
The world is constantly changing and a goo leader needs to be flexible enough to handle that. You cannot break down every time there is a change in the way you know how to do things. There are opportunities to learn new things all of the time, and you should take advantage of this.
How do you want to define yourself in your profession? No matter what you do in life, you want to be able to have authority and confidence. Leaders are important in every role because leaders know when to serve correctly. So make sure you keep in mind the tips that you've just found.
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