Even the most successful leaders will agree that being an effective, well-respected and inspiring company leader does not always come easy. Whether you’ve just started running your own business, are taking on employees for the first time, or have been running a company for some time, and are wondering where you’re going wrong. It could be that your leadership skills just aren’t up to scratch.
Becoming a better leader isn’t something that is going to happen overnight, but if you’re willing to put the work in and determine what inspires your team. If you can stick to that, you will begin to quickly see a lot of positive changes. Check out this list of actionable, simple and positive tips that will help you get down to running your business like a leader.
1. Create great relationships among team members
A defining strength of great team leaders lies in their abilities to build great relationships. While each team member is unique, the capability to build trust with everyone is what propels productivity and workplace harmony.
Relationship building is not only about knowledge of professional strengths and encouraging valuable collaboration. Instead, it involves creating a far-reaching connection that builds a culture of confidence, and making sure that needs such as job relocation and moving requirements are efficiently.
2. Sharpen problem-solving skills
Research by HBR shows that problem-solving abilities are one of the most important skills that determine a leader’s success. Involving team members in discussing long-term solutions to emerging and pressing problems is an efficient way of overcoming most hurdles. You must be at the forefront of gauging situations and determining the best course of action before things get out of hand.
3. Inspires team members
John Quincy Adams aptly described a leader as the individual whose actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become better. The ability to inspire motivation remains a vital quality of every team leader as this is the best channel to attain great output from all team members. To achieve this, you must:
- Have a clear vision and objectives that you funnel down to all team members
- Be invested in helping team members maximize their strengths while working on their weaknesses
Make everyone feel valuable and create an environment that builds enthusiasm and passion
4. Ensure there is great communication
The mark of a team leader who can always be counted on to deliver is excellence in communication. Remember, lack of proper communication is the leading cause of confusion, conflict, and frustration at the workplace. By making it a priority to always communicate clearly and actively listen to your team members, you get to resolve all underlying friction that is bound to affect productivity. For instance, if you are transferring a team member to another location, it is advisable to notify them beforehand and go the extra mile in catering for their move management services costs.
5. Delegate tasks fairly
The most practical way to get powerful results from a team is to master delegation. Avoid leading with an overbearing management style. To do this, you need to prioritize critical tasks and match an employee’s skills with the tasks they handle. You should also know when to delegate tasks, as you do not want to head a burnt-out team that is stressed about their daily schedules.
6. Meet deadlines
As a leader, you need to emphasize the importance of working together to complete tasks on time. Get your team to be their best by keeping everyone focused on their duties to avoid costly letdowns.
To accomplish this, you will need to find the best ways to avoid last-minute procrastination while respecting every team member’s working style. Timely reminders and transparency will go a long way in helping provide room for team members to work without losing focus on their deadlines.
7. Keep healthy competition
Maintaining the right level of competition within a team is always welcome, as it motivates each team player to put their best foot forward. While this should not be the centerpiece of managing your team, instilling a winner’s mentality will set the ground for everyone to work smarter.
You should ensure competition within your team remains healthy, and only a little friendly bragging is acceptable. This will ensure that your team members are meeting their goals without letting the team spirit fade.
8. Adopt a team mindset
The secret to great teamwork lies in how collaboration is supported and nurtured. You are responsible for ensuring that everyone counts as an integral part of the team at all times. This means going above and beyond to create a fair environment for everyone.
A true mark of adopting a team mindset is easily determined by how opinions and ideas from different members are scrutinized or accepted. Maintaining neutrality during such critical moments will ensure all team members will feel respected and needed.