I am often asked how on can be an effective leader. Most people in a position of leadership lack time so they are looking for the quick fix to be a more effective as a leader. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix. However, there are 3 steps you can take with your team, today, that will make you a more effective leader.
Step 1 – Show Them You Care
Theodore Roosevelt brilliantly said, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” Get to know your team on a personal level. Give to them with no expectation of return – and this does not have to be monetary. Giving of your time, thoughts, and perspective can go a long way toward encouraging them to want to do more and make them a better human being. When those you lead know you care and know you have their back, it takes very little effort to influence and guide them in a direction that will make them successful – and eventually you.
Step 2 – Have Clear Expectations
You need to sit down and get very clear in your mind, what it is you want and need from your team. This piece will take you some work, initially. However the benefits will far outweigh the level effort on your part. You must direct in what you expect from them and what they can expect from you. This doesn’t mean that you box them in to thinking and acting a certain way. You need and will want diversity of thought to have the most effective team. This does mean, however, that you are very clear at painting the picture of what you expect the end result to look like – giving them the latitude to provide their interpretation of that result.
Step 3 – Be a Strong Role Model
Throughout my career I’ve seen too many people in positions of leadership have “do as I say, not as I do“ attitudes. The fact is, you need to be the model for how you want your organization to be. If you want your team to do more than what’s expected, then YOU will need to do more than what’s expected and then some. “And them some?” you may be asking. Yes and the reason is, most of your team will only do a portion of what you do. One thing to understand is that your team is constantly watching you. So if you want to do and be more, YOU must do and be more.
Conclusion
Understand that being an effective leader is not easy. If it was, anyone could do it, right? If you apply the three steps I’ve outlined, you will begin to not only see a change in your team, but you will begin to see a change in you. So show your team you care, give them clear expectations, and be the person you want them to be. I look forward to hearing about your success in being an effective leader.
Guest post by Bryan Oliver of Flight4Success
