Nelson Mandela? Mother Teresa? Martin Luther King Jr.? Marie Curie? These are four. There are hundreds more you can mention when the conversation about leadership gets going. But, contrary to popular thinking, leadership isn’t for the chosen few. It is for the few who choose it.
But how? Three things: time, deliberate effort, continuous learning. In the workplace? Community? School? With your loved one? Effective leadership will always count big time. And that’s why this article’s here: to give you five ways to improve these vital skills. Let’s get this show on the road.
Table of Contents
Continuous learning and self-improvement
“Learning is a process that doesn’t end until death.”
To this, leaders from the early days and even those today, nod in agreement. If you’re looking to become a leader, your learning process should never come to an end. What you were yesterday was important then. Today, you need to work towards becoming even better.
Listen to any successful leaders, and you’ll hear them speak about the tomes they read before bed, and how they’re humbled to realize that they’ll always be students till the end of the road. They know what’s up in their industry, they read what other leaders write, they’ll not miss a relevant seminar, and of course, they’ll want to hear from you about what they’re getting right or wrong.
Does that sound like you now or tomorrow? You can click here or find other reputable institutions offering courses and practical training on leadership, team management, and key decision-making.
Effective communication
It would be very difficult to get anything meaningful done when your communication’s unclear. Your instructions will fly all over the place, and your team may end up doing what they heard, which may or may not be what you said, meant, or even intended.
So, to boost your leadership skills, you’ve got no option but to learn to speak clearly, listen actively, and show interest in what your team or partner’s telling you.
And when they’re done speaking, ask genuine, clear, and direct questions. If you have to give feedback, make sure your remarks won’t leave them scratching their heads in confusion.
Emotional intelligence
Your team member has just lost a parent and work deadlines are tight. What would you do as the team leader? A brewing internal conflict might jeopardize a crucial case in court. How do you get them to toe the line without prying the team apart?
As a leader, these are common problems that’ll land on your plate now and again. How you handle them will say a lot. Luckily, you have a friend in emotional intelligence (EQ). With high EQ, you’ll find a way to control your emotions while still showing empathy in both situations.
What would that result in? A way forward that’ll give your team member the comfort they need, and a prompt resolution to team squabbles. That’s a crisis shrugged to the side, and maybe a stronger relationship in the team to boot. Self-awareness, self-control, and empathy-building exercises are what you need to bolster your EQ.
Lead by example
It’s the 1900s. Mahatma Gandhi’s out in the street protesting British colonialism in India. What’s he doing? He’s on hunger strikes, getting in and out of prison, and having all kinds of inhuman treatment visited upon him.
Now, you may not be fighting for independence, but the principles of leading by example shine just as bright. As a leader, you need to ask yourself: How’s my mindset? Am I motivating or guiding my team down the correct road? Are my actions matching my words, or is it just preaching water and drinking Vodka?
A true leader doesn’t bark orders. They lead, inspire, and motivate, and the team learns to trust them enough to follow.
Decision-making
Indeed, heavy is the head that wears the crown, but that crown’s on your head, and you have to wear it with pride and a sense of responsibility. Time to let a team member go? It’s a tough decision, but as a leader, it’s on you. Having to choose between options A and B? Again, your call.
But effective decision-making doesn’t come cheap (or easy). Critical thinking? Yes. Risk evaluation? On the menu. Also, you need to make friends with data and facts, and develop a crystal clear understanding of any situation before making up your mind.
And the best part? Leading isn’t about knowing everything. Talk to your team members and others who know more. The perks? Better decisions, and trust from the team.
Give it a shot
Leadership? It isn’t a switch that you flip on and off. It’s something you live. And to live it, you must learn, improve, and adapt every single day.
This article has provided five great tips. But it doesn’t end here. See those experts? They didn’t land there. They, too, learned from the best. It’s your turn now. Get in touch and begin the ascent to the peak.
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