It’s often said that employees don’t leave their jobs, they leave their boss. Leaders have an incredible amount of impact on their teams and the overall culture of the organisation. So, what makes a great leader?
An inspiring vision: A good leader shares a clear vision to inspire and motivate their team. They set ambitious goals and provide a sense of purpose, encouraging others to work towards a common objective.
Effective communication: Good leaders actively listen to their team members and encourage open two-way conversation. They encourage ideas, consider different perspectives, and provide timely feedback and constructive guidance to help their teams improve.
Empowerment and Trust: Good leaders empower their team members, delegate responsibility, and trust their abilities. They create an atmosphere of trust, where individuals feel valued, respected, and encouraged to take initiative.
Accountability and Responsibility: Good leaders take responsibility for their decisions and actions, holding themselves accountable for both successes and failures. They admit mistakes, learn from them, and encourage a culture of personal and collective accountability.
Emotional Intelligence: Good leaders possess emotional intelligence, understanding and managing their own emotions while empathising with others. They are aware of their impact on those around them and are skilled at identifying where people need additional support, resolving conflicts and motivating their team members.
Adaptability and Learning: Good leaders are adaptable and open to change. They seek continuous learning, stay updated with industry trends, and encourage their team members to grow and develop. Good leaders will never be afraid to develop their teams.
Values based: Good leaders have strong values and have ethics and integrity in their decision-making and actions. They lead by example, maintain transparency, and deliver on their promises.
Being an effective leader requires a combination of strong leadership skills, effective communication, and the ability to motivate and inspire your team. These are skills and behaviours that need to be consciously worked on, even when they may come naturally, and failing to recognise the importance of these can have real and long-lasting consequences for the organisation. Investing time and effort into developing the skills of your leaders and developing leaders is a long-term strategy for sustained growth, development, and success in any organisation.
Do you recognise these traits in great leaders that you have worked with? If you want to talk more about developing the leadership skills and behaviours in your team, get in touch for a chat.