How to succeed with Effective Leadership

Leadership is a skill, which means it can be learnt. It is not simply a privilege of hierarchy, but a responsibility which varies through individuals. Effective leadership implies the knowledge of how little details can impact productivity, when and which comforts are to be sacrificed, and then transforming this knowledge into empathy, transparency, and safety. Leadership sets the tone of the organisation’s objectives and ensures the investment of employees into the company’s mission. Good leadership can help shape someone’s career, while bad leadership can leave them in doubt for a long time to come. It is a responsibility which combines the values of the company with the needs of the employees. An active responsibility to guide the direction of the actions of all who you lead.

Leadership vs Management

There is a difference between managing people and leading them. While the former implies overseeing activities of those reporting to you, the latter indicates your direct involvement in those activities too.

While “manager” is a title, it does not mean the person is a leader too. It needs to be characterised by certain attributes.

With that said, there are certain ways for aspiring leaders (or existing) to lead effectively, rather than manage.

Let’s take a peek.

5 Tips to Lead Effectively

1. Be real – Do not pretend to be anything you or the organisation are not. Transparency and communication can go a long way in ensuring the right talent fits into the organisation’s jigsaw. Be open to ideas and suggestions from everyone and acknowledge when you don’t know something. Own up to your mistakes – this shows your team that they can replicate the same and it is encouraged to come out in the open when a mistake has been made, so that it can be rectified, rather than covered up. Interact with everyone, so that they see you as someone who is approachable. This invokes a sense of trust between you and your team members.
2. Be honest with potential employees – Any candidate you intend on bringing into your team, must have all the necessary information and a general overview of working in the organisation. For this, it is imperative that you convey the company values to them, clearly. This allows you to be clear of what personality traits you are seeking as a fit for the company, and it grants them a chance to evaluate whether they can keep up with the same. Experience is important, but personality is important, too. Leaders need characters who can express themselves through the way they work. Be honest with potential employees regarding qualities you seek. Look for a goof cultural fit. Experience can be gained.
   
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3. Appreciate your team – Be proactive about applauding someone when they have done a good job. Remember, each member on your team will be different, and thus may need a different kind of praise. While some respond to bonuses, others may respond to an extra day of leave, or a simple “Thank You for doing such a good job”. Understand your team before indulging in appreciation. Look out for silent performers. These are the ones who quietly do their tasks and move on. Take an extra initiative to let them know that you are noticing them, too. Great leaders know the impact of personalised appreciation.
4. Project a positive image – Understanding the difference between fear and respect is very important. Any employee or a team member who works out of fear of being fired, is a blemish on your leadership. As a leader, it is your duty to make them feel safe and valued. Trust and respect are both, two-way streets. Be involved in the processes yourself, so everyone can see how you lead by example. This helps eradicate any barrier to approaching you. Remember, you do not need “Yes” people around you. Openness to ideas and suggestions will help create a positive image of yours. Allow your employees to know you as well as possible. These are people with whom you will spend a lot of time working. One-third of your day is spent on work. Hence, it matters what image they have of you in mind. If they do not see you as a leader to look up to, it will soon reflect in their work, and this can be harmful to the company. So, be open, inviting, and positive.
5. Always keep learning – Your style of leadership may not be the same throughout. It could vary, depending upon the needs of your team, and the organisation. Stay open to modifying your way of leadership. Rigidity could hurt your organisation in achieving its goals. Keep up with the new practices of leadership, upgrade your current skills. Do all that you expect your employees to do (remember, you are an employee of the organisation, too). Read. Experiment. Take feedback from your employees. Improvise on what did not seem right. Repeat.

Leadership cannot be learnt or taught overnight. Nor is someone born a leader (contrary to popular belief). It is a skill, which takes effort to learn, and time to hone.

Every leader is unique in their own way, and so is every team.

It is entirely your choice what kind of a leader you wish to be.

What is your take on leadership? If you are a team member, how would you fare as a future leader? Let us know in the comments.