Have you ever wondered how the leaders in your organization got their positions? Or how you can become an effective leader and move up in your career? The following list of skills and attributes is a good starting point for anyone looking to develop their leadership qualities and progress in their careers. When you are an effective leader that helps others reach their potential, you show the people who are responsible for making the decisions that you are ready to tackle the next challenge in your career. You also have mentored and taught the next generation of leaders who can take over for you when you move up. Any successful business knows that their people are one of their greatest assets. If you can keep your workforce engaged and committed to your company, that increases productivity and saves money in the long run. The cost of hiring someone new and training them is much greater than keeping a fully trained and skilled employee happy.
Ways to become an effective leader in business
Effective communication skills
Effective communication doesn’t just mean telling your employees what you want done. It is conveying to your staff what your expectations are and asking for feedback on how it can be done most effectively. The people who do the job day after day are the experts at how particular tasks get done efficiently and while you may have some ideas on how you think it should be done, they know best. Communicating effectively is not just speaking but listening as well. Your employees may have great ideas on how to make certain tasks more efficient or more cost-effective, so everyone benefits when the leader of the team is open to suggestions.
Treat everyone with respect
It may seem obvious that people are more productive when they are treated with respect and feel valued, but you would be surprised at how little it happens in a traditional workplace. To be a good leader, you must treat everyone with respect, from the most senior members of your team right down to the part-time summer student. This means discussing their job roles with them and checking in to make sure they are clear on their roles. Treating people with respect also means treating them the way you would want to be treated and giving those who want it more responsibility. When you lead by example, your team will follow suit and treat each other with more respect, creating a positive and effective work environment. Leading by example also means doing things on behalf of your company in the community and encouraging your staff to do the same. These kinds of bonding experiences are what build close teams with great synergy.
Support further education
If you are in an industry where technology plays a large role in the business and innovations are around every corner, it is important to embrace that by learning more about it. Whether you want to further your education so you can teach your staff, or encourage them to achieve higher degrees or certificates, everyone wins. You may want to take the next step in your career and so getting a degree such as Aston University’s Online DBA will help you achieve that goal while also giving you knowledge you can impart to your employees. Online learning is something you can advocate for with your board and possibly have a partial scholarship or reimbursement program for members of your team who want to take classes. When the workforce feels empowered with additional knowledge and the opportunity to further their education, and the company has helped them do that, they will be more loyal and motivated to help that company succeed.
Be adaptable
Don’t be the leader that says “that’s not how we do things” but rather encourage your staff to innovate and try new things, even if they don’t succeed. Any invention, app, concept has had its challenges, but if the innovators just gave up without trying, then they wouldn’t exist at all. When your staff is excited about trying something new, they are more willing to work harder and get involved in the progress of the company. There is nothing more invigorating than innovation so give your staff the opportunity to get their creative juices flowing and invent something new.
Be a mentor
Have you ever had a teacher, a boss, or someone else in a position of authority, who taught you so much and was such an inspiration that you wanted to thank them? Did they inspire you to reach new heights and encourage you to keep going if you fail the first time? Leaders that mentor and teach their employees rather than ordering them around or treating them like underlings can make a huge impact on the success of a company. A business with employees who are just there for the paycheck and are looking at job apps while at work are not half as productive as those who are truly committed to making their organization successful. A good leader in business can bring employees to new heights of success, but a bad one can bring a whole department down.
Be empathetic
There is a funny notion that if you are empathetic with your staff, it means you are going to be walked all over as a boss. This idea couldn’t be farther from the truth. The empathetic leader who understands that at certain times, accommodations may need to be made has more respect and gratitude from their staff.
No one achieves great success in business alone. It takes a dedicated team of people working together towards a common goal to bring about success and amazing innovations. Leaders in business who understand that their team is their most valuable resource will have engaged and committed people working alongside them. An effective leader will also be training staff who will eventually move up into their position so they can leave behind a legacy and further their own career.
