Often, the questions about having a quality leader are debatable. And this is because people put so much emphasis on the leader they want, someone that is ideal enough for their needs, wants, and many more. A good example is, during elections, each candidate possesses certain attitudes, morale, beliefs, social status, etc. that add up to what people are probably looking for.
Zero in, what has yet to be answered is, how do you become a good team leader despite these changing demands from your colleagues or constituents? The question of being βgoodβ might be relative, but hereβs a run through that would surely capture the general (and probably, universal and humane) leadership skills and abilities one must have to become βgood.β
1. Be open, stay flexible β have a good stretch!
What does being open mean? You might have probably thought of spilling so much beans to everyone but thatβs not it! Being open can mean you are open to change as to acknowledging that everything changes. One good advice: acknowledge that even you, as a leader, are not perfect. This hits growth; you must do your best to develop your skills. Learning is lifelong and happens each day, so why not?
The argument within flexibility at work allows you to acquire new skills. Reality check: most of the time, we are clueless why we need to do such thing. Trust the process, every little thing constitutes to your being.
2. Be a teammate while being the captain β open your eyes!
You might have heard of this many, many times, but this oneβs gold. Being part of the team doesnβt make you any less. Being part of it makes you any better. Plain simple, isnβt it?
The problem between some leaders is, when they take the position, they seem to forget that their world wouldnβt be as good without their teammates.
The emphasis on being a teammate redirects us to, trust. This simply means you become aware that your teammates can finish their deliverables in good quality and on time with minimal supervision. The thing is, you canβt really babysit your teammates. Remember, team, not a babysitting club. Acknowledge that each one of you has a different set of skills which is a great aid for the team!
3. Be compassionateβ open your ears!
Being right or being kind? Always choose the latter. Being compassionate means having the ability to take someone elseβs shoes to understand. Understanding seems to be one of the common things lacking in a workspace. This is because people tend to miss out on the chances of trying to be in the same position as the other.
However, being compassionate may start within you. To simply put, be kind to yourself. Allow yourself to be weak sometimes. Itβs okay not to be okay.
With this, you value your people, tooβeveryone, regardless of position. Allow yourself to praise them from time to time for their effort and hard work; a little sticky note would do a lot to brighten someoneβs day!
Remember, without them, you are probably nothing.
4. Be communicative β know when to open your mouth!
Being communicative, foremost, is being able to manage your emotions. Having a sound mind and a consciousness that is enough to tell yourself to stop, be cautious, or continue.
Whatever the situation may be, find a way to work it out; be able to communicate effectively. This doesnβt just cover business communications but personal as well.
Being communicative helps a lot and many people. Letβs take the example of relationships in general. It is undeniable that communication is a great foundation. Hence, when thereβs open communication, there would always be space for dialogue, for negotiation. And thatβs where growth develops.Being communicative is also about handling various circumstances very well. This hits constructive criticism straight in the eye. It is called constructive, because you are expected to contribute to that construction; that means you need to help them reach their goals, in this case, company goals which are all yours in the first place. Teamwork, yes? Having the ability to give constructive criticism gives an office a healthy impressive which lasts really long.
5. Be process oriented β move your body!
This may be comparable to having a strict diet plan. There seems to be so much work at the start, but trust the process. Mistakes are okay as long as you learn from them. Develop and influence your teammates with a positive outlook as you try your best to deal with things.
Starting with the end in mind helps because that would reiterate why you are there in the first place. Considering process is a healthy trait which redirects to acknowledging all of the team members including you, has to grow and that doesnβt come in big packages or steps. Remember, when small steps are combined, they become big. Little steps or progress is still progress!
It is a continuous challenge for leaders to become good. Even harder when the question asks you, how do you stay as a good leaderβ? Better remember these five key points. Relax and your team will do good if you follow these!
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