How To Be An Effective Leader By

Much has been written about what makes a good leader, from articles with common sense advice to findings by large-scale studies. But despite the abundance of information on how to be an effective leader, many people still struggle with leadership. It seems that for a lot of leaders, any attempt to lead only results in being alienated from the group. This is not surprising, considering how easy it is for a leader to lose the trust and cooperation of those he or she leads. There are many ways to improve your leadership skills and become an effective leader, but these are just some of the most important ones.Lead by exampleThis is perhaps the most sensible and most useful advice that every leader should follow. It can be argued that being a leader puts you in a position of power. It does not, however, exempt you from the rules. In fact, being a leader only gives your team a reason to expect much from you. As a leader, devote yourself to performing well, abide by standards, and uphold yo ur integrity. Your team will be more motivated if youre not just a leader in name but also in character. As the old saying goes, actions speak louder than words, and this cant be truer in the case of a leader. Leave a good impression among your followers by introducing yourself professionally on your first day on the job as a leader. From there, you can be the leader they expect you to be.Communicate with your teamIneffective communication is one of the main reasons behind poor leadership. Failing to communicate with the team may also be misconstrued in a way that results in resentment. As a leader, it is your responsibility to clarify your team members tasks and facilitate collaboration. Communicating with your team will not only enhance teamwork and increase efficiency, but it will also promote rapport and better working relations. On most occasions, you dont get to choose the team that you lead, but in the instance that employees are applying to be under your leadership, then mak e sure you get the best person to build a dynamic among your team. In the interview process, ensure that you find a suitable fit for your team by asking questions and expecting the right questions from them. This will help you build a better relationship with your team and make the process of communicating with them easier.Listen to your followersAlso vital to becoming a good leader is taking the time to sincerely listen to your team. Being a leader means having the power to make crucial decisions and direct the groups activities. A leader, however, cannot do everything alone. Neither is the leader immune to making mistakes. Your followers have their concerns and suggestions. Ignoring their feedback and depriving them of their right to voice out their opinion can easily lead to the groups breakdown. So remain open towards your team; be available to them when they need you; let them speak their mind in a mutually respectful environment. You will be surprised by how much improvement y ou can make by truly listening to your team.Trust their workFew things alienate team members more than the feeling that they are not trusted. Some members of your group will not be able to perform at the level of competence that you desire, but this doesnt mean that you should treat their work with suspicion or be condescending towards them. If youre finding that some of your followers are having a hard time completing certain tasks, evaluate them for their strengths and weaknesses. Then delegate tasks according to their competencies and trust them to do the job. It is a leaders job, after all, to ensure that followers competencies are compatible with their responsibilities.Recognize and reward good workTeam members are encouraged to perform better if they feel valued. As a leader, take the time to recognize and reward your followers achievements. Numerous studies have shown that acknowledging good work has a positive effect on intrinsic motivation and overall performance. This does nt have to come in the form of more compensation. Sometimes simple feedback congratulating someone should be enough. In a way, youll be aiding them in prioritizing their mental health when you choose to highlight their good work than pointing out their mistakes. If they showcase more errors than good work, then its okay to pull them aside and have a sincere conversation about their performance. The last thing you want to do as a leader is humiliate someone in front of your team.Inspire your team memberMany people see their responsibilities as just a job. That is, they may operate under the notion that working is just a matter of performing tasks in exchange for compensation, and they end up giving only the bare minimum. As a leader, you can improve your teams overall performance by making your members see the value of what they do. Help them recognize the importance of their individual roles and encourage them to take pride in their work. People who treat their work with respect are more likely to perform better than those who regard what they do as just a job. If your team finds themselves in a bind and cant seem to channel any inspiration to keep doing their job well, then find ways to awaken their spirits for them.Be flexibleFinally, be a flexible leader. There are various styles of leadership, from permissive styles that give members total freedom to authoritative styles that control all aspects of the team. Each style has its advantages and disadvantages. While you may have your personal leadership style, its still best to be flexible by knowing when to let your members work autonomously and when to take the reins. Being a flexible leader will help you apply the strengths of specific leadership styles to appropriate situations. That said, remember to strike a balance between flexibility, firmness, and consistency.A true leader knows that theres no end to learning how to be a good leader. It also takes a great deal of concern, empathy, and sincerity to be effective in this position. But knowing the basics of effective leadership is the first step towards knowing how to be a good leader.