In part 2 of this series of leadership tips, I share a further 10 tips.
Tip 1: Learn how to listen effectively
Many leaders are great at speaking and writing but few are great listeners. The best and most successful leaders are great listeners.
Tip 2: Don’t ask others to do what you are not willing to do yourself
It will send out the wrong message.
Tip 3: Build a great team of people around you
No matter how skilled and competent you are, there is only one of you.
You cannot do everything personally so you need to build a team around you who complement your skills, knowledge, expertise and attributes.
Tip 4: Encourage others to take balanced risks
Unless something happens, nothing changes. You need to encourage people to take risk but not to be reckless.
Taking balanced risk is about weighing up the pros and cons of each potential opportunity and then taking the best decision you have based on the information you have.
Tip 5: When things don’t work out as expected, help people to learn from their mistakes
If you want to encourage people to take action, you need to be willing to allow them to make mistakes.
Most people learn more when they don’t get the outcome they expected than when they do. Part of the reason is they don’t reflect on what they did to achieve success?
Tip 6: Self reflect and be willing to learn from your own mistakes
As well as encouraging others to learn from mistakes, be willing to learn from your own mistakes.
Tip 7: Never fall into the trap of believing that you do not need to continue to develop
The skills, knowledge and expertise that got you to your current level will not take you to the next level.
What are three things that would have greatest impact on your success as a leader?
Tip 8: Don’t micro manage people
Hire good people and give them freedom to deliver.
Tip 9: Empower people to deliver results
Tell people the result that you want and leave it to them to figure out how to achieve it. Remember we are all different and approach things differently.
Tip 10: Tackle poor performance rather than ignoring it
If an individual or team is not performing and delivering what is expected, tackle this rather than ignoring it.
So that’s it for part 2. Keep an eye out for part 3.
Duncan Brodie helps professionals to become highly effective leaders.