Leaders are not managers. Managers manage people while Leaders lead people. The difference is minor and some might argue it's just semantics, but the reality is they are different roles and require a different skill set. Leaders make choices, which can be ethical, financial or strategic in nature and create lasting results on an organization. Becoming a great leader requires effort - in learning and developing skills and expanding a person's knowledge. Fortunately, though, the path can be taken by nearly anyone with the desire to be a leader.
That being said, here are five tips to get you started on the path to being a great leader:
* Never Stay Down
Some of the most successful leaders in business or their industry experienced plenty of down moments before they hit their prime. Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple was fired at one time. Bruce Springsteen's first album did not make the charts. Thomas Edison failed over 10,000 times before creating the light bulb. An important skill is acknowledging defeats and moving beyond and above them. Tenacity and desire to be better has always been a skill of great leaders.
* Have a 360 Perspective
Most people have the tendency to move with the pack because everyone else thinks it is the right thing to do. Leaders are not afraid to voice their opinions, but they also are not afraid to admit when they are wrong. The key is to see things from many angles and then making the best decision.
Look at both points of view from your perspective. Put yourself into the shoes of someone else, now look at both points. Again, put yourself into the shoes of someone different and examine both points. After you have looked at the points from various angles, making an educated decision is the next step. By developing the appreciation of other points of view, our ability to see a broader number of alternatives, discussing them and even disagreeing with them is easier and more trustworthy.
* Engage Others
Real leaders do not just lead the pack, they are actively engaged in the pack and people naturally see them as the leader. The more the pack thinks and gets involved with the leader, the more effective the leader. It is not fun having a meeting where one-person talks and the other listens. On the other hand, meetings with active discussion among all participants moderated and controlled by the leader are fun, insightful and deliver better ideas.
* Be Present
Too many managers are not around actively taking part in the day-to-day activities of their staff. Leaders are often involved with the entire team. Whether in a meeting, at lunch, at functions or just around the office, being part of the team and accessible is a major indication of a leader. General Patton regularly went around and talked to his troops, often getting to know their names and giving them some words of advice. He was firm but treated his soldiers as if they were his kids.
* Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths are opportunities to shine and really express your leadership qualities with vigour. Believing that you are strong in every aspect is not helpful though. True leaders recognize their weaknesses and surround themselves with people who have the complementary strengths. Leaders can always work to minimize their own shortcomings, but they should not ignore them. Give yourself permission to be your own best self.
LePhair Associates has a program that can help people become better leaders. The system is called the CheckPoint Feedback System and is a 360-degree survey used to evaluate the effectiveness of leaders. It is a fantastic tool to identify where you or your managers excel and where there is room for growth. It takes into account feedback from direct reports, peers, supervisors and even customers. If your goal is to be or build great leaders, this assessment and the five tips above are a great place to start.
[About] LePhair Associates is a sales and service training and development company providing employee assessments, training and consulting services to companies that appreciate their people are essential to their success. LePhair's customized training programs, help companies get the right person in the right job, provide the means to determine how engaged the workforce is and provides a process to coach, train, manage and motivate people to greater success and increased productivity. Try a complimentary Assessment.
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