Five ways to instantly make you a better leader
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Management can be challenging. It's not surprising, as many 40% of new managers are promoted with no extra training.
You're expected to hit the ground running.
Do you feel like you would have benefitted from extra leadership training when you took that first step into management? You aren't alone; according to this article in Forbes, an incredible 98% of managers feel the same.
It's easy to understand why the step up to a leadership role can be daunting. More pressure, changing relationships with workmates, the extra stress and anxiety that come with the responsibility. The spectre of self-doubt often looms over us; that creeping feeling of dread as that voice in the back of our mind whispers, 'I can't do this.'
Those feelings are perfectly normal. Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, or any other leader you admire has had those exact thoughts. Each and every one of them has felt the grip of imposter syndrome at some point in their careers.
The key to succeeding as a leader is to channel that energy into positive actions and behaviours.
Five ways to improve your leadership skills
Show patience
As a manager, you will have challenging days, and hard decisions will be yours to make. Do not allow the pressure and stress of a situation to provoke you into making rash decisions.
Fear and anger are all too natural human emotions, do not allow them to become part of your decision-making process. Take a step back, be calm, be considered.
Human nature can lead us to make snap decisions, so take whatever time you need to think through your decisions' long and short term consequences.
Be a role model
Your own actions and behaviour will set the tone for your workplace. Some honest self-reflection can be an excellent place to begin. Do you meet the standards that you expect of your employees?
Strive to maintain a positive attitude to the task at hand, regardless of the difficulties. Be clear in your communications and honest in your actions. Hold yourself to account for your failings and correct them.
Don't be afraid to ask for help.
As a leader, your role is to ensure that your workforce is effectively engaged in its task. High-pressure situations will always arise in any industry, and it is easy to fall into the traps of micromanaging your staff and overburdening yourself.
Recognising the need for help is a crucial part of leadership and asking a colleague or peer for advice demonstrates that you will use all the resources you have at hand.
Turning to your employees for help will build trust and show them that you value their input and experience. Studies have shown that companies that foster these relationships have much greater employee retention and productivity.
Learn to Listen
In all aspects of life, listening is one of the most important skills you can possess. There is always something new we can learn in the workplace, and listening to those around us can have an incredible impact.
Listening to your employees, showing them that you understand their concerns, that their opinions matter, and that you will act upon what you have learned is one of the most effective ways of keeping your workforce productive and happy.
Just by listening to your staff, you can avoid becoming detached from your employee's reality.
CEO of Gravity, Dan Price, did just this after speaking to his employees and discovering several had taken on second jobs to make ends meet. He implemented changes based on their feedback, and, by any metric you care to use, his company saw massive improvements.
Show Confidence and Humility
As a leader, your employees must find you approachable and genuine. When things go wrong, don't point fingers; ask questions. Ask your team what each of you could have done differently, where you could improve, or for new suggestions.
At the same time, you should display confidence in your decisions and tackle hard problems head-on. Aim for a collaborative environment rather than simply giving orders.
Other related blogs -> Are you a boss or a leader?
