Whether it’s managing a team of two, or twenty, the fundamentals of being a good leader remain the same. As much as the desire to do well at work can stem from wanting to progress both financially and in the role, motivation to do the best often comes from leaders/managers.
Some people are natural born leaders, but there is no doubt that with the right training and practice, by developing the right skills, a good leader can be made.
Here are some top tips on how to improve your leadership strategies and create the best team possible.
Keep learning
This can be applied to any role, but especially in leadership. Whether it is keeping up to date with which project management platforms works best for your team, or the best strategy to increase team bonding remotely. By employing the mindset of being open to learning, this helps stay ahead of the game and prepare for new challenges.
Be prepared to listen and take on feedback
Part of having a good leadership strategy is being able to listen and take on feedback and new ideas. Being aware of non-verbal queues and being able to read a situation is an invaluable skill in being a good leader. By listening to your team and being able to take on ideas helps improve approachability and enables you to gain a deeper understanding of your team and how they work.
Keeping your strategies and practices the same just for the sake of trying to maintain a status quo because ‘it’s always been done like that’, doesn’t leave room for growth and improvement. By being open to new ideas and alternative ways of thinking, true innovation and progress can be made. Plus, it helps the team feel inspired and that their opinions are valued.
Inspire others
The best leaders not only get their team to complete tasks but they inspire them to continue learning and be motivated to better themselves.
One way a leader can inspire their team is through leading by example. By meeting goals and deadlines, you are setting the standard and expectation for your team. By laxing in discipline, it can encourage this from others.
A further way to inspire your team is to ask for their insights when you’re presented with a challenge. This not only helps you solve the problem but encourages teamwork and inspires the team to contribute and gain potentially new skills.
Encourage personal and professional growth
A great way to motivate your team is to make them aware of opportunities for them to grow. This is not only within the company, but through their personal development. Through checking in with your team regarding their roles and how their progressing, this helps gage their motivation levels and helps indicate how you can increase them.
As a leader, you should be invested in your team’s growth, both personal and professional. Some of the best leaders enable opportunities for their employees to grow by providing them with challenges and guiding them where necessary.
Be able to see the bigger picture
This relates to the ‘listening and feedback’ element we mentioned earlier. Being able to be situationally aware, you can help find potential challenges before they occur. By constantly looking at the bigger picture both opportunities and potential hurdles can be accounted for.
Provide feedback and recognition
This is arguably one of the most important elements of successful leadership strategies. Through providing constructive feedback, transparency and trust can be built amongst your team. As humans, we have an intrinsic need to feel valued and feel a sense of purpose. Therefore, providing recognition helps adhere to these needs. Further to this, there is a mutual understanding of requirements, alongside what is manageable for the team.
Alongside providing feedback, employee achievements should be recognised. Employee’s want to feel valued and recognised for their work. A recent National Employee Survey found over 90% of respondents said employee recognition is important to them. Despite this, 62% stated that they hardly ever or were never appreciated by their boss. 72% of employees stated they would work harder if they were appreciated.
By creating a culture which recognises and appreciates excellent work, employees are more motivated to do great work. Plus, they are more satisfied in their job, and the moral of the team increases.
A great leader can make an even greater organisation
Having great leaders is pivotal in the success and growth of organisations. At Gibson Watts, we’re the leaders in finding your leaders. We know how to find the perfect fit for your organisation and its teams. If you would like more information about our Executive Search or leadership strategies, contact a member of our team today.
Written by Josh Smith