Do you consider yourself a leader? Or wish you were a leader? Leaders must inspire those around them while remaining strong. Uncertainty and difficult situations do not stop leaders from taking charge.
Leaders use many strategies to lead others. Here are ways we feel can help you as you endeavor to lead others and use your leadership skills.
1. Focus on the mission of your organization. If you focus on the mission and set your goals to fulfill it, then it will be easier to lead others and show them how to achieve it. If your goals don’t align with your mission or you are not clear on your mission, get clarity. Otherwise, you will spin your wheels towards nothing.
2. Follow through on your promises. A real leader keeps the promises made during meetings and beyond. Say what you mean and do what you say.
3. Avoid micromanaging. Micromanaging can hurt the group you’re trying to lead. It devalues your team and creates a toxic environment.
4. Respect the opinions of others. Allow them to share their ideas. Implement the right ideas and give credit where it is due.
5. Listen to the needs of others, don’t just hear them. If you listen carefully, you’ll discover more about what motivates your team members and where their heart is at in the process. Anyone can hear someone, but to listen to and for what is not said is the secret.
6. Avoid procrastinating. It can destroy your leadership goals.
7. Stay determined. Once you commit, stay with it. Even if you find that you must try multiple ways to get to the destination or outcome you desire. The result, “The Why” is what we are striving for, how we get there is always up for negotiation.
8. Allow others to see your emotions. Your leadership will benefit from showing a human side. Empathy and Sympathy in times can be a strength, not a weakness.
9. Look for answers outside of the norm. The ability to think differently is a crucial leadership skill. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut or tradition. Not everything is “cookie-cutter” in life.
10. Admit mistakes. Pretending that a mistake didn’t happen will make your coworkers lose respect for you. Lose the pride for a moment and apologize when necessary. While this creates vulnerability it also fosters transparency.
11. Use your coworkers to brainstorm. Your coworkers can help find solutions and feel like they’re part of the process to resolve issues. Teamwork is critical to a leader’s success.
12. Avoid intimidating others. Fear can prevent positive interactions. Intimidation is not a good motivating tool. It pushes people to fight or flight and, in most cases, always produces a no-win situation for everyone.
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