Leadership
As a leader in the business world it is very easy to fall back on the behaviours that are most comfortable to you. But that doesn't necessarily mean that you are doing what's right. Being a leader is a difficult thing. We are all leaders to some degree. We are parents. We are friends. We are coaches. We are leaders of groups such as the WLS Support Group I attended on Sunday.
As leaders we tend to celebrate those that are most like us. These are the people that we best support and encourage because these are the people we understand the best. The challenge for a "good leader" is to bring the diversity of our "group" together so that everyone benefits and has the chance to grow and develop.
While on the lines of the unemployed I have had the rare opportunity to sit back and observe the world around me. I have the opportunity to watch leaders, good and bad, do their thing. It's allowed me to reflect on what I want to do in my next role that would make me a better leader.
Things that have spoken very strongly to me include
1. remain neutral. Your choices are not necessarily the right ones and in no way should your choices be used to sway others. Your job as a leader is to impart information and options. Decision need to be made by those that you are leading. That's how you get buy in. That's how you create a safe environment for everyone no matter what their choices. If there are no real choices you explain why and move on. At times a leader does need to make a decision that will impact their team without their input. That's ok. But remain neutral.
2. your credibility is all you have. If you are seen as favouring any one person, any one idea, any one anything and it is perceived that you receive benefit from this favouritism then you have nothing. People will not trust you. People will not hear your message no matter how good that message may be. You have lost the one thing that will allow you to be a good leader.
3. be honest. This builds on the last point. Disclose where you need to disclose. If people feel that you are being honest with them then they will follow you when you need them. They will much more likely support what you are trying to achieve than if they feel they are being taken for a ride. This is one reason why people who work on a commission, or kickback, basis have such a hard time establishing and maintaining credibility. It is one thing if I follow your advice if I know that you are receiving something in return for a favourable decision on my part, it is a whole other thing if I find out after my decision that you have benefited from "helping me". I'm going to feel like I've been sold.
4. Celebrate all successes equally. Ensure that every one who deserves recognition is acknowledged
5. Talk less than you listen. If you are so busy sharing your own thoughts, experiences and opinions then you are not truly listening to the people who matter most - your team
6. Draw on the experiences/skills within the team. If there is someone that is better skilled at something that you, give them the opportunity to shine. For example, speaking in a group is a very difficult thing. Some people thrive. Some people choke. If you are a choker then draw on someone elses skills to deliver the message. By sharing the spot light you are giving someone else the opportunity to shine but more importantly you are ensuring that the message is delivered in the most effective way possible.
It's all common sense but it's amazing to me how many people do not conciously think about the impact that they are having as leaders. As a leader you have position power. Some people will listen to what you have to say just because of the title you have. True leadership is saying what is right and true and then letting those that "follow" you make the decisions that are best for them, for the team or the company (dependent on what the situation may be). Not the decision that is necessarily best for YOU.
As leaders we tend to celebrate those that are most like us. These are the people that we best support and encourage because these are the people we understand the best. The challenge for a "good leader" is to bring the diversity of our "group" together so that everyone benefits and has the chance to grow and develop.
While on the lines of the unemployed I have had the rare opportunity to sit back and observe the world around me. I have the opportunity to watch leaders, good and bad, do their thing. It's allowed me to reflect on what I want to do in my next role that would make me a better leader.
Things that have spoken very strongly to me include
1. remain neutral. Your choices are not necessarily the right ones and in no way should your choices be used to sway others. Your job as a leader is to impart information and options. Decision need to be made by those that you are leading. That's how you get buy in. That's how you create a safe environment for everyone no matter what their choices. If there are no real choices you explain why and move on. At times a leader does need to make a decision that will impact their team without their input. That's ok. But remain neutral.
2. your credibility is all you have. If you are seen as favouring any one person, any one idea, any one anything and it is perceived that you receive benefit from this favouritism then you have nothing. People will not trust you. People will not hear your message no matter how good that message may be. You have lost the one thing that will allow you to be a good leader.
3. be honest. This builds on the last point. Disclose where you need to disclose. If people feel that you are being honest with them then they will follow you when you need them. They will much more likely support what you are trying to achieve than if they feel they are being taken for a ride. This is one reason why people who work on a commission, or kickback, basis have such a hard time establishing and maintaining credibility. It is one thing if I follow your advice if I know that you are receiving something in return for a favourable decision on my part, it is a whole other thing if I find out after my decision that you have benefited from "helping me". I'm going to feel like I've been sold.
4. Celebrate all successes equally. Ensure that every one who deserves recognition is acknowledged
5. Talk less than you listen. If you are so busy sharing your own thoughts, experiences and opinions then you are not truly listening to the people who matter most - your team
6. Draw on the experiences/skills within the team. If there is someone that is better skilled at something that you, give them the opportunity to shine. For example, speaking in a group is a very difficult thing. Some people thrive. Some people choke. If you are a choker then draw on someone elses skills to deliver the message. By sharing the spot light you are giving someone else the opportunity to shine but more importantly you are ensuring that the message is delivered in the most effective way possible.
It's all common sense but it's amazing to me how many people do not conciously think about the impact that they are having as leaders. As a leader you have position power. Some people will listen to what you have to say just because of the title you have. True leadership is saying what is right and true and then letting those that "follow" you make the decisions that are best for them, for the team or the company (dependent on what the situation may be). Not the decision that is necessarily best for YOU.
posted by Aussieabroad at
8:41 AM
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