Leadership Tips And Advice Direct From The Pros

Is It Time To Talk More About LEADERSHIP

Building a trusting relationship with your employees is an important part of being a strong leader. Just because you're the boss does not mean that you are the only leader in the group, or even the smartest person in the room.

Say thank you to your employees. Many studies have been done on the power of a thanks given from a manager to his or her employees. It increases productivity, often by a lot. Just a little graciousness really can help extend your power as a leader, so be active about it.

Learn your employee's names. A great leader takes the time to learn the names of his or her most immediate staff, and even the names of the top performers under them. It shows them that you care enough about them to know them not just as a worker, but as a real person.

Watch out for project creep. This can happen when your project's scope isn't clearly defined. If you have control over the project, resist the temptation to add more project objectives as time goes on. If you are receiving external pressure to expand your project, resist it with all your might. Your subordinates will thank you.

As a leader, you must learn how to become decisive. As the leader, decisions start with you. If the people on your team offer different opinions on a matter, it is your job to make the right decision.

Understand the business you are in. Unfortunately, there are many leaders out there who don't get their business totally. Whether that's because they inherited the business or they just no longer care, it doesn't matter. It reads the same to employees. How can you lead if others don't trust that you have the knowledge to do so?

Show your appreciation for your team. It takes little time to write a note saying "thank you" or "good job" and it may mean quite a bit to a person that's worked hard the whole day. That little acknowledgement can brighten a day, and lift a mood, and costs you nothing.

When trying to be a good leader, it's important to be truthful about the situation. If something isn't working out as planned, let your team know. If you need to change something, tell them. Your team needs to know what is going on, whether it be good news or bad.

It is not effective to be a leader if you are not able to set a good example for others. You cannot sit around giving out orders and expecting people to follow them if they don't have respect for you. The best way to earn respect is being a positive role model to others.

Don't be a know-it-all with regard to leadership. Even if you have a lot of great ideas, let others offer their opinions. They will give you some tips on how to improve your leadership strategies and correct your mistakes.

When you're a business leader, you should be stern but understanding. Make sure that the people working for you understand what you expect out of them. If they don't meet your expectations immediately, give them a chance to catch on. Everyone has a different learning curve, and the people that may seem slow to catch on could become your greatest workers.

Set aside some time every day to evaluate how everything is going. It's often a good idea to ask a few members of your team to participate in these daily evaluations. You can discuss changes, consider suggestions, and even make friends.

Always be honest, but remain kind.

Tell your team when they make mistakes, even if it is minor. It will only help them improve on the job next time. The key to maintaining good morale is to bring it up reasonably. Make sure the team knows you are always looking to improve as a team.

Keep in mind that hope is not always a good thing. If you or your business are involved in a situation that has an inevitable and bad ending, do what is necessary to terminate the situation and move on. Employees will never forgive blind optimism in such circumstances, and it's better for everyone to have a bad situation behind them as soon as possible.

Always be clear. It doesn't matter how good your workers are if you aren't communicating your ideas efficiently. Be sure to explain your goals and any deadlines that need to be reached. Make sure that your workers understand what you expect from them, and be available to answer any questions they might have.

As you can see, there are a lot of aspects involved in being an effective boss. Knowing how to communicate with your employees and build confidence in your leadership abilities will gain you the respect you deserve. Implement these tools when dealing with your employees, and your business will have a greater chance for success.