Leadership is an inborn quality, but some refinement and knowledge will always be needed to enhance this unique talent. If you want to be a great leader, evaluate your abilities and address the areas that require improvement. Some people also believe that leadership is an attained knowledge which becomes programmed and instinctive over time. Here are some key leadership qualities that can help you to become a true leader and gain respect at your workplace.
Be A Role Model
Leading by example is not as easy as it sounds. Successful leaders always maintain a balance between their actions and what they preach. You need to be consistent in your actions to project positivity and become a role model at the workplace. Set the right expectations and highlight what’s expected by clearly establishing a code of conduct. Encourage your teammates to follow the established rules and never break the code of conduct.
Be Humble
You need to gain the respect of your colleagues and teammates. If you want to establish a strong bond with your crew, try to be humble. Share the credit of success with your team members and if you commit a mistake, admit it. If you admit your mistake, your employees feel confident to disclose theirs thereby bringing in transparency. Unnecessary ‘blame game’ can ruin the environment and work culture of the workplace.
Be An Effective Communicator
Do not intimidate your colleagues or employees with your title or power, rather be approachable to them. Give them a patient hearing when they discuss workplace issues and preserve the confidentiality of such conversations. Do not jump to immediate conclusions and communicate your stand in a wrong way. Set your expectations from the team upfront and make a note of all the important discussions. If any misunderstandings crop up in the organization, try to settle them through the right communication channel. Heated arguments and insulting people should be avoided at any cost. Remember, every problem can be solved in a professional way if you are capable enough to do it.
Encourage Creativity
Inspire your team to think creatively and give them some positive inputs and feedback. If you encourage your team to come up with some innovative ideas and give them an opportunity to showcase their ideas, you will earn enormous respect from the team. The team will also become more confident and committed towards the organization. Reward creative ideas and innovations. It will eventually improve the problem-solving ability and productivity of the team.
Challenge Your Employees
Great leaders know how to bring out the best results from the team. They are excellent observers and study the capabilities and mindsets of the teammates. As a leader, encourage them to think. Thinking leads to learning and innovation which is the basis of survival in this competitive world. Dynamic employees get bored if they constantly work under similar circumstances and are stuck in a monotonous job. As a leader, you need to find out such talented employees and challenge them to think out of the box and give them some fresh air. It is a part of continuous learning and symbiotic growth. However, you need to demarcate thresholds and provide them with challenges that are achievable within their limits. Over-burdening, an individual beyond his capacity, leads to frustration and failure.
Review And Reward
Great leaders lead from the front. They should always have a careful eye on the overall performance of the business. Never forget to praise an individual or a team effort when you review successful projects. Rewards for consistent performers encourage others to give their best. If any project does not meet your expectation, give the team some tips to improve. The correct decisions and correcting measures taken by the leader play a pivotal role in the progress of the company.
