Often times, I hear many friends, coworkers, and employees wondering how to be a leader and if they even think of themselves as a leader. Employees immediately think that their manager or boss is a leader; however, that is not always the case. Leaders can be anyone in an organization, and YOU can be that leader you have always imagined. Here are a few ways in which you can be an exceptional leader:
1. Communication
Leaders have to be great communicators. Effective communication allows you to be transparent and open about business decisions and goals. If you are not communicating with others about your work, you are not setting yourself up for success. This can go both ways. Employees should also communicate with one another in order to complete an important task.
Communication is key for leaders to:
- Boost team-building
- Enhance employee productivity
- Build trust and relationships
2. Be Humble
To be a good leader, you must stay humble. Being humble can help you to connect and stay connected to your team. Humility is often under-discussed and its extremely important for leaders to be humble as they take on more responsibility within a company. This may be the perfect chance for YOU to practice humility while taking on additional tasks within your company.
3. Accountability
Leaders should first hold themselves accountable in addition to helping their team hold each other accountable. When you allow people to learn how to be accountable for their actions, you are giving them an opportunity to value and be proud of their work. If you can hold yourself accountable, YOU can help others do the same. Check out this TED talk about extreme ownership and accountability.
4. Have a Vision
Leaders should have a vision that evolves around their mission statement for their business. If leaders don’t have a clear vision, it will be difficult for their team to meet expectations and goals. Having some sort of vision will not only help the leader, but it will give others in the company an opportunity for growth. If you have a specific vision, YOU can become a strong leader.
Additionally, having a vision provides two major things:
- Inspiration
- Motivation
5. Last but not least…. Lead by Example
Leaders should absolutely lead by example. They must model behavior that they expect from others. If you are not leading by example, how can you expect others to do what you want them to do? If you are doing your best work, others will do their best work and tap into potential that they may have not discovered until now. Don’t be noise in a large crowd, be a SIGNAL.
Leaders are important in all organizations, and YOU can be a leader if you truly put your mind to it. Who do you find is a leader in your everyday life? What do they do differently? Being a leader is a choice, and you can choose leadership every day.
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Thanks for reading!
Emma Condon - Business Development through Leadership 