10 Skills to Be a Good Leader
by Anne M. Bachrach (USA)
The phrase ‘good leader’ may be subjective, but if you have worked for a ‘good’ leader or a ‘bad’ leader, you definitely know the difference. If you are ready to take the next step in your entrepreneurial endeavors and are determined to be a good or great leader, what do you need to do?
How can you assure you’re going to be the type of leader that your staff or your contractors will want to follow? What can you do to be a great leader even in the face of difficult times or challenges?
When you are in a leadership position and if you have hired well and are delegating, your role as the leader can inspire action in your team or it can lead to discontent and discord. The way in which you lead can literally spell success or disaster.
Do you bring any one or all of these 10 skills to the leadership table?
- You are a collaborator. When you are a leader, yes, you’re in charge, but remember it’s the team you have built that will move projects forward. When you collaborate with your team, you all succeed (and you the most, of course). Don’t use your power to dictate; you’ll thrive best when you collaborate. Asking for input can be very useful in so many ways.
- Look for the dysfunction and eradicate it. When there is dysfunction in the workplace or on your team, everyone suffers – not just the parties involved. Team morale goes down when one or two people on the team are fractious. When you see or hear about dysfunction on the team, speak with the individuals privately and then jointly. Do what you can to get to the bottom of the issue. Know that at some junctures, there is nothing you can do and one, or more, of the parties fostering dysfunction may need to go. Don’t let the ‘cancer’ spread in your firm.
- Your team is one of your greatest assets. Focus attention on them. Listen to them. Give them the resources they need to complete their tasks and to thrive. Appreciate them. Offer them opportunities to develop and grow. Get to know them and their hopes and dreams. Foster an environment where you know what your team does on the weekend, what their ultimate work dreams are, and be respectful.
- How can you make an impact? If you have taken the leadership role from someone who has either moved up or moved on, challenge the status quo. Just because ‘that’s the way it’s always been done’ does not mean that is the way it has to continue to be done. Look for ways to streamline and update processes. Don’t throw everything out, though. There may be processes in place that have been honed over the years that are ideal.
- Keep learning. Simply because you have achieved the title of ‘leader’ does not mean you need to stop learning. In fact, a leader should continue to learn through his or her career. Stay on top of trends. Know what’s new and interesting and what’s on the way out in your industry.
Source: iCN Issue 41 (Leadership Coaching); pages 32-34
About Anne M. Bachrach
Anne Bachrach is known as The Accountability Coach™. She has over 27 years of experience training and coaching. Business owners and entrepreneurs who utilize Anne’s proven systems and processes work less, make more money, and have a more balanced and successful life. Anne is the author of the books, Excuses Don’t Count; Results Rule!, and Live Life with No Regrets; How the Choices We Make Impact Our Lives, No Excuses!, and The Work Life Balance Emergency Kit. Go to https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/landing and get 3 FREE gifts including a special report on 10 Power Tips for Getting Focused, Organized, and Achieving Your Goals Now. Join the FREE Silver Inner Circle Membership today and receive 10% off on all products and services, in addition to having access to assessments and high-content resources to help you achieve your goals so you can experience a more balanced and successful life https://www.accountabilitycoach.com/coaching-store/inner-circle-store/
