Effective leadership is often touted as the cornerstone of successful organisations, superior teams, and important individuals. It goes beyond just managing tasks; it involves inspiring and empowering others to achieve their full potential. Despite the plethora of research and learned discussion, the challenge of starting as a leader can be daunting. New leaders often wonder how they can develop their leadership skills to inspire and empower their teams.
In this article, we will explore ten key leadership strategies that can elevate your leadership effectiveness and make a positive impact on those you lead. This is by no means a complete list; there are probably thousands of other skills you can develop to improve your leadership. But everyone needs to start somewhere, so here’s a few helpful prompts to help you at the start of a long and rewarding journey.
1. Lead by Example:
One of the most powerful leadership behaviours is leading by example. Demonstrate the behaviours, values, and work ethic you expect from your team members. Your actions speak louder than words, and when you model the behaviour you want to see, it creates a culture of accountability and trust.
Leading by example starts by knowing what example needs to be set. Your personal values, the organisational values and team culture all play a role here. Make sure you have a firm understanding of all three – both as they are, and more importantly, as they should be. Then, as Marcus Aurelius would say, don’t spend your time wondering what it means to be a good person – be one.
2. Communicate Openly and Transparently:
Effective leaders understand the importance of clear and transparent communication. Share information openly, listen actively, and encourage open dialogue within the team. Regularly communicate goals, expectations, and progress updates to keep everyone aligned and engaged.
Many of us have come across people who treat information as power, and refuse to share it. Don’t be that person. General Stan McCrystal developed a culture within his organisation in Iraq that turned “you don’t need to know” into “who needs to know?” Sharing information is a powerful leadership behaviour for anyone who seeks to be better as a leader.
3. Foster a Culture of Collaboration
Encourage collaboration and teamwork among your team members. Create an environment where diverse perspectives are valued and encouraged. Promote a culture that values cooperation, open discussion, and mutual support, fostering creativity and innovation.
To foster this culture means removing implicit competition. For example, if there’s a ranking system in your company’s annual performance reports, you can’t expect people to collaborate in a meaningful way. Make sure rewards are tailored to team performance, not just individual KPIs. Only when people feel recognised for their input into collective efforts can we expect them to contribute to these efforts.
4. Provide Purpose and Meaning:
Good leaders inspire their team members by providing a sense of purpose and meaning in their work. Connect individual tasks and goals to the broader organisational mission. Help team members understand how their contributions make a difference, fostering a sense of pride and motivation.
Those of you familiar with Steven Covey’s 7 Rules of Highly Effective People might recognise this as ‘starting with the end in mind.’ To exercise this behaviour, remind your team regularly how their contribution helps everyone get closer to the outcome. By linking their daily or weekly efforts to a long term goal, everyone is reminded of the meaning behind their inputs and can derive purpose in their work.
5. Empower through delegation:
Effective leaders empower their team members by delegating authority and responsibility. Trust your team members to take ownership of their work and provide them with the resources and support they need to succeed. This not only develops their skills, it also fosters a sense of ownership and – most importantly – trust.
Trust is the currency of leadership. It underpins many, if not all, of the leadership behaviours in this article. By delegating your responsibilities, you foster trust within your team. When you remain accountable for your team’s actions and outcomes despite delegating these responsibilities, you reinforce that trust. Good leaders do only the things that only they can do. For the other responsibilities they have, they delegate and demonstrate trust. Figure out what it is that only you can do – and only do that.
6. Develop and Mentor Others:
Invest in the growth and development of your team members. Provide coaching, mentorship, and opportunities for learning and advancement. Help them identify their strengths and areas for improvement, and provide constructive feedback to foster their professional growth.
Regardless of what it may say on your job statement, one of your key roles is to identify and train your replacement. Even better is to work yourself out of a job – develop your team so that they don’t need your oversight and input. The resistance to this behaviour often comes from fear; if my team don’t need me, I’m redundant and might be fired. In reality, it’s more likely that if you develop a team who can do your job, your potential is eminently evident and you will progress within your career – just like you’re helping your team to do.
7. Embrace Flexibility and Adaptability:
In a rapidly changing world, effective leaders embrace flexibility and adaptability. Be open to new ideas, embrace change, and encourage your team members to do the same. Cultivate a culture of continuous learning and improvement, where adapting to new circumstances is seen as an opportunity rather than a challenge.
There are no leaders of renown who opposed positive change. To be effective as leaders, we need to be willing to listen to all ideas, and apply the good ones based on the direction we need to go, not the person who came up with it. To demonstrate this behaviour, actively listen to your team’s ideas, and encourage them to provide their thoughts on what changes are likely – and how the organisation can be ready to embrace them.
8. Recognise and Celebrate Achievements:
Acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and contributions of your team members. Recognise their efforts publicly and provide genuine appreciation for their hard work. Celebrating successes fosters a positive and motivating work environment, reinforcing a sense of accomplishment and team spirit.
Demonstrating this behaviour can be relatively easy, and is a high-payoff for a low investment. Publicly and genuinely acknowledging positive contributions can be as simple as a heartfelt ‘thank you’ stated in a team meeting, or as public as a press release or social media post that shouts it out to the world.
9. Lead with Empathy and Emotional Intelligence:
Effective leaders understand the importance of empathy and emotional intelligence. Practice active listening, show genuine concern for the well-being of your team members, and provide support during challenging times. By demonstrating empathy, you build strong relationships and create a supportive work environment.
Showing empathy is one of the skills that isn’t taught in schools, and isn’t well-fostered in our society. To help you, here’s a handy reckoner; if you’re saying ‘sorry’ about an event, that’s sympathy. If you’re reflecting the emotions of someone else, that’s empathy. For example, if a teammate’s car is damaged and they are frustrated, show them you share their frustration. Make sure it’s genuine, and don’t wallow in it – but never dismiss it either, or you’ll undermine the trust you’ve built.
10. Continuously Reflect and Improve:
Good leaders are committed to their own growth and improvement. Continuously reflect on your leadership approach, seek feedback, and be open to self-improvement. Identify areas for growth, set goals, and actively work towards becoming an even better leader.
If you want to know where to improve, seek feedback. Most people will tell you where you can work on, and if all the news is good, you’re faced with two possibilities; one, that you’ve mastered leadership and can start the speaking circuit. More likely though, that you’ve created a power imbalance that your team are uncomfortable covering and telling you the truth. If this is the case, it’s powerful feedback in itself, and you have your first area to improve.
Conclusion
By implementing these ten effective leadership behaviours, you can elevate your leadership impact and inspire those around you. As noted earlier, there are many, many more effective leadership behaviours that can help you to do a better job as a leader. Remember that these behaviours take time to implement, and practice to get right. There will be days you don’t get it right. But a genuine desire to do better, and to be better, will hold you in excellent stead for your leadership journey.
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