A practical definition of a leader is someone who inspires the actions of his/her followers. Using expertise and visionary insights, leaders take initiative actions that often lead to success. The following tips mentioned in this post have 2 main purposes. This post helps YOU determine if you’re up for the challenge of becoming a great business leader and What Would It Take to do so?
1. The Makings of a Leader: Learning from the Best
Being a great business leader takes patience. It is a long road ahead to gain the desired amount of business experience. However, through taking initiative and learning, YOU can achieve your goal.
Perhaps you’ve heard of the old adage, “Sometimes you need to serve in order to lead.” Through your studies and observations, find a role model that shares common business goals who is worth learning from. This person may be a historical or current business leader. Learn from that person firsthand by studying the principal actions that attributed to that person’s success. Learning is initially done through emulation. It is not necessary to take every measure accomplished by that individual but to make your own decisions based off of principles learned through the actions of others.
Related: 9 Non-Threatening Leadership Strategies for Women
Simultaneously, research and find a few great business leaders online. They tend to make videos to discuss their future strategies, current plans, and past accomplishments. Their videos, webinars, and blogs can provide useful insights into the gulfstream of modern business that you can utilize in your decision making process. The most effective leaders are also constantly hungry for more information. Remember, a great teacher is also a wonderful student.
2. Developing Management Talent
Why are management skills important?
Team members don’t usually like to be micro-managed; they want to be led. Team members feel much more valued when given the opportunity to fulfill their assigned responsibilities without the constant interference of management. This helps you build trust with your associates which generally leads to a better working environment. Your job as a business leader is to LEAD, not to carry out every precise detail of the tasks which have been delegated to other team members.
What Would It Take (WWIT) to do all those things?
Personally, before tackling any large issues, I center my frame of mind using a method I call To the Light, Connect or TLC. TLC helps me focus solely on the task at hand and to redirect my intuition to where it is most needed. I recommend a personal TLC session before every staff meeting and perhaps encouraging your associates to participate. Doing this may help to alleviate project related stress.
SAMPLE WWIT QUESTIONS
- WWIT for my team to successfully execute the project?
- WWIT to meet the demands of the project?
- WWIT to guide my team to success?
- WWIT to maintain deadlines concerning completion and progress?
- WWIT to maintain budget and fiscal responsibilities?
Remember, these are just sample questions. Each project has its own personal issues and questions to be addressed.
3. Relationship with Employees
A friendly professional relationship with your employees is strongly recommended due to the increased ease of business communication. Great communication is key to maintaining any relationship whether personal or professional. Maintaining an open pathway of communication greatly increases your chance of success. This being said, remember to maintain high professional standards to prevent complacency. Great leaders are tough on issues but fair and just with fellow team members. Also, encouraging the free flow of ideas in the workplace can often lead to creative new solutions to problems.
Related: The 4 Best Tools For Internal Business Communication
YOU can become a great leader. Just listen and believe your intuition.
If you have any more great tips on how to become a great business leader, please link in and comment below. Great advice is always appreciated. Thank You!
Here’s the WWIT cheat sheet to help you start your healthy transition more easily with the two basic and the most important tools- WWIT and TLC.
