Practice These To Become A Better Leader (Part 1)

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” – William Arthur Ward

"A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be." - Rosalynn Carter

“If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." -Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Leadership is a crucial aspect of any organization or community.

A good leader can inspire and motivate others to achieve their goals while a poor leader can hinder progress and cause damage.

It can also be overwhelming. You are responsible for leading and building a team, but you don't know where to begin.

I've been in an executive position for 15+ years, pretty much since I started my company right out of university. I learned the hard way, without any prior experience, making many mistakes and continuously evolving.

Whether you're aspiring to lead a team or simply want to improve your leadership skills, here's a cheat sheet to help you lead better.

This is Part 1 of a series. Let's get started!

A) Vision and Goals

A clear vision and set of goals are essential components of effective leadership.

A leader who has a strong sense of purpose and direction can inspire their team to work towards a common goal with greater enthusiasm and commitment.

This is an important but often underrated point. Many leaders think it is enough to tell people what to do.

Not anymore. People want to understand they "why" of what they do, and why it is big enough, impactful enough, and can take care of their financial needs if achieved.

They know you may not have it all figured out from the onset, but they want to know that you have a strong sense of direction and they can trust in your guidance to keep figuring it out as they follow you.

You need to:

1. Define your vision: Start by defining what you want to achieve in the long term.

This should be a broad statement that captures the essence of your goals. Your vision should be inspiring and motivating to your team members. For this, you need to be clear on the impact of your vision on the world and your team.

Tell them the story of why they should believe in this vision and follow you.

2. Set specific, measurable goals: Once you have defined your vision, break it down into smaller, achievable goals. Make sure each goal is specific, measurable, and time-bound.

This will help you track progress and ensure that everyone on your team understands what they need to accomplish.

At the start you can track using excel sheets and whiteboards, and progress to using tools and frameworks like OKR (Objectives and Key Results) and the BSC (Balanced Score Card). It doesn't matter the tool however, as long as you track progress.

3. Involve your team: Get input from your team members when setting goals.

They can provide valuable insights into what is feasible and realistic based on their areas of expertise. This will also increase buy-in among your team members and foster a sense of ownership over the goals.

4. Communicate regularly: Keep your team informed about progress towards your goals.

Regular communication helps keep everyone on the same page and ensures that any issues or obstacles are addressed promptly.

And this leads me to the next point.

 

B) Effective Communication

Effective communication is one of the most important qualities of a good leader.

Good leaders know how to communicate effectively with their team members, stakeholders, and customers.

They understand the importance of active listening, clear and concise messaging, and nonverbal cues such as eye contact and body language.

You need to:

1. Listen actively: Active listening involves paying attention to what others are saying while showing interest and understanding.

It helps build trust and respect between the leader and the team member. Leaders should avoid interrupting or dismissing the ideas of others.

Instead, they should ask open-ended questions and seek clarification when necessary.

2. Use clear and concise language: Clear and concise messages are easier to understand and remember.

Avoid using jargon or technical terms that may confuse others. Use simple language that everyone can understand.

3. Be aware of nonverbal cues: Nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice can convey more meaning than words alone.

Pay attention to these cues and adjust your message accordingly.

4. Communicate goals clearly: Clearly communicating goals and expectations helps team members understand their role and purpose.

It also helps them align their efforts towards achieving the common goal.

5. Follow up regularly: Regular follow-ups help ensure that everyone is on track and that any issues or concerns are addressed promptly.

It also helps maintain accountability and responsibility.

6. Encourage feedback: Encouraging feedback from team members helps identify areas for improvement and fosters a culture of continuous learning and growth.

Leaders should respond positively to feedback and use it as an opportunity to improve.

7. Show appreciation: Appreciation goes a long way in building relationships and maintaining motivation.

Acknowledging the contributions of team members and expressing gratitude for their hard work can boost morale and productivity.

8. Foster a positive culture: Creating a positive culture within the team requires effective communication skills.

Leaders must model the behaviors they expect from others and create an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

9. Continuously learn: Finally, effective communication requires continuous learning and improvement.

Leaders should stay updated on industry trends and best practices and seek feedback from others regularly.

Final Thoughts

The journey to being a better leader is a continuous one. Your goals may also evolve over time and that's okay.

The best leaders are able to be open and authentic with their teams in sharing these goals as they evolve and communicating in a manner that would grow their trust in you.

Whenever you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:

1. Do you have any specific personal or career development challenges? Send me a message. I'd like to learn more about it and see how I can help.

2. Follow me on Twitter & LInkedin, and subscribe to this newsletter to continue receiving relevant strategies to grow your business and career, and achieve the life of your dreams.