The leaders in your company set the foundation for acceptable behavior that employees eventually echo.
A leader, by definition, is someone who has an organization that works together to meet a common goal.
When we apply this definition to our company, we often find that the leaders we have chosen are usually fighting to accomplish their tasks and solve everyone else’s issues.
This is not how effective leadership should work.
Your leaders should inspire, train and motive their group to problem-solve. In other words, your employees should know how to function appropriately without constant help from managers or leaders of this sort.
The Top Commandments of Leadership
Guide by listening
True leadership does not entail one person pointing orders at everyone and then issuing write-ups for things that have not gone perfectly. Effective leaders take time to take a step back and listen to their employees.
By listening, leaders will gain an understanding of their team’s desires, needs and aspirations.
Approach Privately
No matter how close your team is and how well everyone gets along, public shaming is always a no!
Pull an employee into your office, have a private meeting, email them questions you have about an incident, but never discipline an employee in front of others.
This not only makes you look bad, your employee look bad, creates resentment, but it also creates unnecessary drama that otherwise could have been a quick fix.
Compliment Well To Those Who Do Well
There is no better feeling than being praised for your hard work.
Boost employee morale and acknowledge those who meet and exceed what is expected of them.
For those who are struggling, compliment them as well and note their value to the company. This will really push them to work towards excellence.
Create a compliment board; pass around compliment cards written from employee to employee and things of this sort.
Call The Tough Shots
In management, mostly nothing is easy.
One of the most vital characteristics of a leader is the ability to face difficult situations.
At the end of the day, do what needs to be done for the company’s best interest.
The Deadly Sins
Pride
True leaders engage in healthy relationships with their team.
Inc.com states, “Appropriate pride and self-esteem are healthy, and may even be necessary for success. But if you set up yourself as more important that others, you’re harming yourself–likely because you’re not feeling good about yourself to begin with. A true leader embraces self with intimate, healthy relationships and deep experiences with others.”
Anger
Lashing out at employees and demonstrating your anger and frustration is detrimental. It is okay and normal to feel upset or angry towards a situation, but your feelings should never be aimed towards others.
This can harm your staff and creates unhealthy relationships in the workplace. Inc.com suggests transforming this anger into something constructive.
Inactivity
Procrastination leads to failure in meeting what is required and expected from you.
It is okay to not place too much on your plate because juggling too many balls can be stressful. Take things slow if you need to but with a deadline.
Always remember that others are relying on you, so your role in the company is important. Get things done, on time.
I think one of the most important rules of leadership is to realize that leaders will learn just as much from their team as their team from them, so don’t be too hard on yourself and apply these simple rules.
