In order to know yourself, you have to understand your be, know and do attributes. Seeking self-improvement means to strengthen your attributes continuously. This can be accomplished through self-study, formal classes, reflection, and interacting with others. Leadership is one such attribute which has to come from within. Different people require different forms of leadership. You must have a honest understanding of who you are, what you know, and what you can do. To help you be, know and do; follow these 9 principles of leadership.
Following are the 9 principles of Effective Leadership
Know and communicate the vision:
“The most powerful man in the world is the story teller. The story teller sets the vision, values and agenda of an entire generation that is about to come.” – Steve Jobs
You might be team leader, a manager or a CEO, if you intend to become a great leader you need to start working on formulating your vision. You must have the ability to see the things you intend to build or the changes you plan to make in a crystal clear manner. After formulating the vision it’s your responsibility to inject this vision into the minds of your co-workers. If you are working in an organization try to align your team’s vision in line with the organizational vision. Also, make sure that everyone working under your leadership is completely aware and well informed about that vision.
Read the following article to improve your thinking skills:
4 steps for developing Effective Thinking skills
Read the following article to improve your thinking skills:
4 steps for developing Effective Thinking skills
Be technically proficient:
“You’d better have the technology knowledge. I really urge you not to think you can start a company and business with just ideas on paper, because you’ll end up owning so few of those ideas.”-Steve Wozniak
As a leader, you must know your job and have a solid familiarity with your employees’ tasks. Your ability to understand the problems in detail will serve as the master key to unlock the solutions to many problems. This is not possible until and unless you are the master of your subject area. It also helps you save the time and effort in hiring specialists to resolve the issues you face. Also, if you do not have an in-depth technical knowledge you will not know the consequences of the your decisions.
Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions:
“Rank does not confer privilege or give power. It imposes responsibility.”-Peter Drucker
Search for ways to guide your team and ultimately your organization to greater heights. And when things go wrong, they always do sooner or later-do not blame others. Analyze the situation, take corrective action, and move on to the next challenge.
Make sound and timely decisions:
“Everybody’s got an opinion. Leaders are paid to make a decision. The difference between offering an opinion and making a decision is the difference between working for the leader and being the leader.”-Bill Walsh
Use good problem solving, decision making, and planning tools. You have a brain and mind of your own. Use it, and reach your own decisions. If you need facts or information from others to help you reach decisions, acquire the facts or information you need quietly, without disclosing your identity. Those who reach decisions promptly, and definitely, know what they want and generally get it. The leaders in every walk of life decide quickly, and firmly. That is the why they are leaders.
Set the example:
“What you do has far greater impact than what you say.”- Stephen R Covey
Be a good role model for your employees. They must not only hear what they are expected to do, but also see. That does not necessarily mean you have to constantly prompt to them what is to be done. But it means to show them the path and to let them explore further possibilities.
Know your people and look out for their well-being:
“Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take of your clients.”- Richard Branson
Know human nature and sincerely caring for your co workers. Whenever they come to you with their problems first listen to them completely. Most of the times all they might need is someone who can listen to them. Instead of rushing them to a short term solution, help them to find a solution which would eliminate the problem completely.
Keep your workers informed:
“The art of communication is the language of leadership.”-James Humes
Know how to communicate not only with you workers, but also senior people and other key people. If you communicate the task clearly, more than half of your job is done. Try to avoid the communication gaps which lead to problems like re-work, work delays and improper output. Try keep your work force updated about all the latest happenings in your team or organization.
Read the following articles to improve your communication and presentation skills:
Read the following articles to improve your communication and presentation skills:
5 Steps for improving verbal communication skills
5 Steps to improve your presentation skills
Maintain team spirit:
“A team not a group of people who work together. A team is a group of people who trust one another.”-Simon Sinek
To become a great leader you should master the art of bringing out the best from your team by continually encouraging, motivating and inspiring them with his words and actions. You must strive to create a sense of bonding among you team members. There nothing more powerful than team of highly motivated, independent and talented individuals working together to achieve a common vision.
Hire only the best:
“Hiring people is an art, not a science, and resumes can’t tell you whether someone will fit into a company’s culture.”-Howard Schultz
Always hire people who are more talented and more knowledgeable than you. When you have highly skilled and independent people in your team, your work becomes much simpler. Also, when a group of people having similar mindset work together ideas start flowing. While hiring always remember this statement ‘talent begets more talent’.
For further reading on leadership please read the following articles:
Qualities of Great Leadership defined by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Can you hear yourself lead?
For further reading on leadership please read the following articles:
Qualities of Great Leadership defined by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Can you hear yourself lead?
