Lolly Daskal's Blog, page 112
March 14, 2017
The Forgotten Skill That Will Make You a Better Leader
It’s easy to tell a good leader from a bad one—but how do you tell a good leader from a great leader? That secret lies in their forgotten skill.
Many people who move into leadership positions get caught up in thinking that power is the way to build great leadership, when in fact it’s just the opposite.
Power come to those who take on responsibility—not just for themselves but for others.
As with so many things, if you have to tell people you’re in power, your power isn’t that genuine.
If you aspire to achieve greatness in leadership, it’s a must that you develop a healthy relationship with responsibility.
Here are some ways great leaders can take on responsibility:
Create a framework others can follow.
People need a map, a guide, a blueprint to help them know which direction they need to follow. It is the leader’s responsibility to show them a path and a vision. When you have that framework in place, it provides focus and discipline, and those who resonate with it will follow without being told.
Earn people’s trust.
Earning trust is crucial; people need to have confidence in their leader. When there is no trust, people will alienate themselves from those in authority. Great leaders who have earned the trust and confidence of their people know that their team is inspired, committed and motivated.
Invite feedback and criticism.
It’s the responsibility of a leader to invite open criticism. When you make it to the top, many people will tell you what you want to hear, but that’s not how you learn. Great leaders aren’t interested in the shallow validation of hearing how great they are. Instead, they take on the responsibility of making sure they know about their mistakes and weaknesses.
Set high standards for integrity.
It is a leader’s responsibility to implement, develop, monitor and enforce ethical behavior. Integrity starts from the top and moves throughout an organization. Responsible leaders hold a mindset that cares for the needs of others and takes citizenship seriously. Each action and word must meet a moral and ethical baseline.
Understand leadership is not about you.
It’s about others. The leader may hold power and authority, but those things come with obligations. Leadership is ultimately an act of service. It’s impossible to treat it otherwise and achieve greatness.
With great power comes great responsibility—not only to yourself but also to those you lead. As a leader, you must always be willing to show accountability and to respect and serve others. The true source of power is not titles or bank accounts but service and responsibility.
Lead from within: The forgotten skill that will make you a better leader is knowing that the price of power is paid with responsibility. As Plato stated, the measure of man is what he does when he is in power.
Additional articles you might enjoy:
Why Great Leaders Expect Everyone to Be Great
These 13 Things Will Kill Great Leadership
The Best Free Leadership Advice You’ll Ever Get
How to Tell You’re Dumbing Down Your Leadership
12 of the Most Dangerous Leadership Mindset
Photo Credit: Getty Images
The post The Forgotten Skill That Will Make You a Better Leader appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
March 8, 2017
Asking for a Raise When You’re Afraid To
Much has been written about how to negotiate for a better salary. But what about when you’re not sure you deserve a raise in the first place?
As an executive coach for more than 30 years, I’ve worked with many top leaders who appear extremely successful externally, yet struggle with their self-worth. Michael, an esteemed leader in his company, stands out in particular. He was dedicated and loyal, and had been doing his job diligently for years.
But when several longtime colleagues left the company, their positions were filled by new hires — who he discovered through office chatter were all being paid more than he was. At first he shrugged it off, but this new information started to trouble him. He realized that he was managing a team of 140 people but making significantly less than new hires with teams of only 20 to 30 — and in one case, just five.
He started to feel uncomfortable and insecure. Why didn’t they offer him a raise? Did they not appreciate him? Didn’t they see how hard he worked?
He lost his enthusiasm for his job. Where he had once been a positive force, he now found himself feeling sullen, resentful, and distrustful. He knew his only chance to reclaim satisfaction at work was to ask for a raise. But for reasons he couldn’t even identify, he hesitated.
Objective reality showed an easy case for a raise: He worked harder than most and had a bigger team. He had more seniority within the organization and more experience in his field. He had great results and his team performed consistently well year after year. But his changed work situation had resulted in a massive failure of self-esteem.
For leaders facing this situation, it’s important first to understand and acknowledge your self-worth – and then learn how to sell it within your company. Here are four steps to make it happen.
Develop a sense of urgency. It’s human nature to seek out safety, and – especially if you’re not confident in your abilities – it may seem risky to ask for a raise. But the truth is, you may already be past the breaking point. If you’re finding yourself resentful and frustrated, you have two options: stick with what you’re doing, knowing how deeply dissatisfying it is, or step up and ask. Recognize that if you don’t take action, your dissatisfaction may leak out through words or deeds, and damage the reputation you’ve worked so hard to cultivate.
Of course, you may fear that your request for a raise is unreasonable. That’s why it’s essential to boost your confidence with competitive research. Consult salary surveys on the Internet to get a sense of what competitors are offering for your position, to establish a lower and upper pay scale. To the extent possible based on what you know, compare your compensation to that of others in your organization, allowing for factors like changes over time to the benefits packages for new hires. That can give you baseline information that’s useful in negotiation, and it will also likely increase your confidence, as you know for certain that your request is within reason and supported by sound data.
Next, it’s time for a personal assessment. You’ll want to look at almost every factor to get a complete picture, from your educational background to your long-term record within the organization to your team’s performance in the past quarter. Most importantly, make a list of the things that make you unique and set you apart from others in your company. You can draw anecdotes and hard data from performance reviews, personal letters and commendations, and client satisfaction surveys. Look for documented instances where goals have been met, sales and revenue earned, detailed performance statistics, initiatives you’ve undertaken, and key areas where you’ve demonstrated your loyalty and commitment.
When you’ve amassed this mound of information, you’re almost certain to feel worthy to make a case for yourself. Note that it’s important not to treat this as a one-time event; instead, set up an ongoing system to document and periodically communicate your accomplishments to your boss and, where relevant, throughout the organization.
Finally, even though you should approach the negotiation with a collaborative mindset, it’s important to prepare for push back. You’ll need to anticipate and prepare for potential objections, and not let them rattle your confidence. If you encounter push back about your data, focus the conversation on understanding how your compensation is set. Above all, your objective is to gain agreement that the market rate you’re looking for is reasonable and equitable, without giving up. It’s useful to do some practice sessions with a coach or trusted colleague, to ensure you can respond to objections without getting overheated and end the conversation on a positive note.
Even those who know they deserve it can have a hard time asking for a raise – and it’s especially challenging if the voice inside your head wonders whether you’re really deserving. But don’t let other people’s opinions define your value. Take an honest look at your own achievements and the competitive landscape. You’ll feel more confident in asking for what you’re worth. Even if your boss is resistant, if you’ve crafted a strong enough case, it’s likely that if you’re brave enough to ask, your true value will eventually shine through.
The post Asking for a Raise When You’re Afraid To appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
March 2, 2017
How to Lead Better When Pressure Is Mounting
Most of us work under pressure, that is a given, but not many of us who work under pressure will have our work affect hundreds if not thousands. As a leader, CEO, boss, what we do, gets magnified, scrutinized, and maximized.
The idea that a leader can make decisions when times are under pressure, and still bring out the best in their people, is something that we can all learn from and certainly apply to our lives and leading.
As an executive coach to leading thought leaders around the world and as a business consultant I have seen qualities that leaders retain in order to become better leaders under pressure.
Here are things that they do and that we can do to emulate and echo great leaders qualities.
Manage their anxiety
Most people lose themselves in the stress of tension, but great leaders draw from their interpersonal skills to know that to lose control is not to manage well. they understand that courage is grace under pressure, so as leaders they learn to be bold, and manage their anxiety, even though their anxiety sometimes seems bolder than they are.
Maintain an optimistic attitude
Great leaders recognize that all kinds of risks and uncertainty can threaten their organization’s survival, and they know that becoming negative, and getting all critical is never going to make any stressful situation better, so they learn how to remain positive and have an optimistic attitude.
Find order in chaos
Great leader know that if you cannot handle the pressure you cannot be successful, and therefore are all about finding clarity and coherence in times of chaos, they look for order, so they can find solutions that will make a difference not only for their company but for their people.
Look for those who can assist
Great leaders know you cannot do everything alone, you need others to help, assist, and to collaborate with, in times of stress, great leaders look for support, from those who are talented, skilled and capable, they work with them, to find solutions that will work.
Mold their own potential
Great leaders know they are only as good as what they know, they can only lead from how we are informed. therefore, great leaders are constant learners they make the time to constantly learning new things, to up their game, what they knew yesterday, is not good enough for today, because pressure is something you feel when you don’t know what the you are doing, therefore manage pressure, they work on molding their own potential, the better they are, the better equipped they are at handling the pressure.
Stay ahead of the curve
Great leaders try to stay ahead of the curve, they need to be present in the moment, but they are always planning for the future, the greatest leaders are always thinking what is my next step forward, when pressure mounts the calm has to prevail, so they can think what will be my next step, the more you know the better you can decide what is your next move is, you truly don’t know what you need to do, until you find yourself under pressure sometimes you learn best in calm, and some in chaos.
Continue to contribute to the cause
Great leaders know that to withstand stress, you need to be able to be grounded in something bigger than yourself, they are constantly and consistently grounding themselves and dedicating themselves to pursuing the noble cause of their company, organization or institution, they know that if purpose is the driver they will be able to prevail.
Pressure is real, dealing with it is genuine, don’t allow the picture in our head of how it’s supposed to be, prevent you from being who know you can be. Great leaders handle their pressure, and because they do, those around them will respect them and trust them.
Lead from within
As Winston Churchill stated. you can measure a man’s character by the choices he makes under pressure.
Additional articles you might enjoy:
Why Great Leaders Expect Everyone to Be Great
These 13 Things Will Kill Great Leadership
The Best Free Leadership Advice You’ll Ever Get
How to Tell You’re Dumbing Down Your Leadership
12 of the Most Dangerous Leadership Mindset
Photo Credit: Getty Images
The post How to Lead Better When Pressure Is Mounting appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
February 28, 2017
4 Powerful Ways to Improve Your Leadership Presence
Like every other field, leadership has its rock stars—people with so much dynamism and energy that their influence stays with people long after they’ve left the room.
You may have been led to a career in leadership by one of them. And as you go through the everyday work of mentoring, guiding and encouraging that makes up most leadership, you may wish you could be more like them.
We can’t all be rock stars, of course.
But whatever your leadership work looks like, there are things you can adjust to magnify its impact. Here are four of the most powerful:
Your mental attitude.
Your mental attitude is a complex state involving your beliefs and values, your disposition and your actions. Your thoughts and actions have consequences, and powerful leaders make sure that what they say and do has the effect they intend. With a great mental attitude—which includes your emotional health, outlook on the world, self-image, and much more—you’ll strengthen your leadership and be more effective in understanding and relating to others.
Your physical attitude.
Your physical attitude involves your body and body language—the way your physical self reflects your inner being. It’s concerned with how you present yourself. Do you give off an air of confidence and assertiveness, or a message that you are uncomfortable? You can improve your presence just by being mindful of the physical message you are conveying. Whatever you’re feeling, keep your body language powerful and confident.
Your emotional attitude.
Your emotional attitude is the compass you use to navigate your emotional state—sadness, happiness, positivity, negativity, whatever you’re feeling. Your emotional attitude conveys your leadership presence, and leaders with highly developed emotional intelligence know how to manage their emotions to convey the kind of presence they want to communicate. The most powerful leaders respect and honor their emotional state; they’re comfortable with their emotions and know how to manage them.
Your metaphysical attitude.
Each of us has within us a spirit of who we are. This attitude is about how we connect with ourselves and others, but it’s also much more—it’s about being connected to something much larger than yourself and connect with others in a way that’s truly meaningful. It’s the most powerful leadership presence you can have. To cultivate a powerful metaphysical attitude, be an attentive listener. Seek to understand and learn. Lean forward. Let people sense your interest and respect. Remember, leaders become great not because of their power but because of their ability to empower and connect with others.
Lead from within:
Powerful leaders with a strong presence have a mental, physical, emotional and metaphysical presence that others remember and carry with them.
Additional articles you might enjoy:
Why Great Leaders Expect Everyone to Be Great
These 13 Things Will Kill Great Leadership
The Best Free Leadership Advice You’ll Ever Get
How to Tell You’re Dumbing Down Your Leadership
12 of the Most Dangerous Leadership Mindset
Photo Credit: Getty Images
The post 4 Powerful Ways to Improve Your Leadership Presence appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
My New Boss, What Can I Do?
So much goes into making a good job: rewarding work, relationships with coworkers, a good work-life balance. But when one element is missing, a job you love can quickly turn into one that makes you miserable.
This week, leadership coach Lolly Daskal helps a reader deal with a new boss that’s ruining the job she used to love.
Hello,
I’ve been at the same company for eight years. I don’t love my job, but I’ve liked it enough until recently. I’m in a small department and my manager is driving me crazy. He started at the company about a year ago and his overly emotional, micromanaging style does not suit me. My department colleagues have been able to adjust to his personality or avoid him completely. Because we work closely on major projects, neither is an option. I have to deal with his emotional outbursts and oversensitivity more often than my colleagues do.
I’ve discussed my issues with him and with HR, but nothing has really changed. Because there is no option for a department transfer, I think my only other choice is to quit. I dread coming to work because of my manager. I’m stressed out and it’s beginning to affect my well-being.
I know I should find another job before I quit this one. But I don’t think I can wait that long. We’re about to start a major project that I will be managing. Given the way I feel, what is my obligation to the rest of the team? Should I give them a heads-up before I give notice? I don’t want to leave them hanging with just two weeks’ notice, but honestly, I don’t know how much longer I can last.
Thanks for your time.
Miserable Marketer
[Photo: Flickr user Rebecca Wilson]
The post My New Boss, What Can I Do? appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
4 Powerful Ways to Improve Your Leadership Presence
Like every other field, leadership has its rock stars—people with so much dynamism and energy that their influence stays with people long after they’ve left the room. You may have been led to a career in leadership by one of them. And as you go through the everyday work of mentoring, guiding and encouraging that makes up most leadership, you may wish you could be more like them.
We can’t all be rock stars, of course. But whatever your leadership work looks like, there are things you can adjust to magnify its impact. Here are four of the most powerful:
Your mental attitude. Your mental attitude is a complex state involving your beliefs and values, your disposition and your actions. Your thoughts and actions have consequences, and powerful leaders make sure that what they say and do has the effect they intend. With a great mental attitude—which includes your emotional health, outlook on the world, self-image, and much more—you’ll strengthen your leadership and be more effective in understanding and relating to others.
Your physical attitude. Your physical attitude involves your body and body language—the way your physical self reflects your inner being. It’s concerned with how you present yourself. Do you give off an air of confidence and assertiveness, or a message that you are uncomfortable? You can improve your presence just by being mindful of the physical message you are conveying. Whatever you’re feeling, keep your body language powerful and confident.
Your emotional attitude. Your emotional attitude is the compass you use to navigate your emotional state—sadness, happiness, positivity, negativity, whatever you’re feeling. Your emotional attitude conveys your leadership presence, and leaders with highly developed emotional intelligence know how to manage their emotions to convey the kind of presence they want to communicate. The most powerful leaders respect and honor their emotional state; they’re comfortable with their emotions and know how to manage them.
Your metaphysical attitude. Each of us has within us a spirit of who we are. This attitude is about how we connect with ourselves and others, but it’s also much more—it’s about being connected to something much larger than yourself and connect with others in a way that’s truly meaningful. It’s the most powerful leadership presence you can have. To cultivate a powerful metaphysical attitude, be an attentive listener. Seek to understand and learn. Lean forward. Let people sense your interest and respect. Remember, leaders become great not because of their power but because of their ability to empower and connect with others.
Lead From Within: Powerful leaders with a strong presence have a mental, physical, emotional and metaphysical presence that others remember and carry with them.
Additional articles you might enjoy:
The Difference Between Leaders and Managers
Why Great Leaders Expect Everyone to Be Great
The Best Leaders Are Great Coaches
21 Things New Leaders Should Do
Your Leadership Requires You to Have Guts
For coaching, consulting, workshops and speaking. Please feel free to contact us.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
The post 4 Powerful Ways to Improve Your Leadership Presence appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
February 21, 2017
How to Lead Better When Pressure Is Mounting
Most of us work under pressure, that is a given, but not many of us who work under pressure will have our work affect hundreds if not thousands. As a leader, CEO, boss, what we do, gets magnified, scrutinized, and maximized.
The idea that a leader can make decisions when times are under pressure, and still bring out the best in their people, is something that we can all learn from and certainly apply to our lives and leading.
As an executive coach to leading thought leaders around the world and as a business consultant I have seen qualities that leaders retain in order to become better leaders under pressure.
Here are things that they do and that we can do to emulate and echo great leaders qualities.
Manage your anxiety: Most people lose themselves in the stress of tension, but great leaders draw from their interpersonal skills to know that to lose control is not to manage well. They understand that courage is grace under pressure, so as leaders they learn to be bold, and manage their anxiety, even though their anxiety sometimes seems bolder than they are.
Maintain an optimistic attitude: Great leaders recognize that all kinds of risks and uncertainty can threaten their organization’s survival, and they know that becoming negative, and getting all critical is never going to make any stressful situation better, so they learn how to remain positive and have an optimistic attitude.
Find calm in chaos: Great leader know that if you cannot handle the pressure you cannot be successful, and therefore are all about finding clarity and coherence in times of chaos, they look for order, so they can find solutions that will make a difference not only for their company but for their people.
Look for those who can assist: Great leaders know you cannot do everything alone, you need others to help, assist, and to collaborate with, in times of stress, great leaders look for support, from those who are talented, skilled and capable, they work with them, to find solutions that will work.
Mold your own potential: Great leaders know they are only as good as what they know, they can only lead from how we are informed. Therefore, great leaders are constant learners they make the time to constantly learning new things, to up their game, what they knew yesterday, is not good enough for today, because pressure is something you feel when you don’t know what the you are doing, therefore manage pressure, they work on molding their own potential, the better they are, the better equipped they are at handling the pressure.
Stay ahead of the curve: Great leaders try to stay ahead of the curve, they need to be present in the moment, but they are always planning for the future, the greatest leaders are always thinking what is my next step forward, when pressure mounts the calm has to prevail, so they can think what will be my next step, the more you know the better you can decide what is your next move is, you truly don’t know what you need to do, until you find yourself under pressure sometimes you learn best in calm, and some in chaos.
Continue to contribute to the cause: Great leaders know that to withstand stress, you need to be able to be grounded in something bigger than yourself, they are constantly and consistently grounding themselves and dedicating themselves to pursuing the noble cause of their company, organization or institution, they know that if purpose is the driver they will be able to prevail.
Lead from within: As Winston Churchill stated. “You can measure a man’s character by the choices he makes under pressure.” Great leaders handle their pressure, and because they do, those around them will respect them and trust them.
How do you handle pressure when it’s mounting? Share your thoughts.
Additional reading you might enjoy:
Why Great Leaders Expect Everyone to Be Great
These 13 Things Will Kill Great Leadership
The Best Free Leadership Advice You’ll Ever Get
How to Tell You’re Dumbing Down Your Leadership
12 of the Most Dangerous Leadership Mindsets
For coaching, consulting, workshops, and speaking. Please feel free to contact us.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
The post How to Lead Better When Pressure Is Mounting appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
February 14, 2017
12 Signs You Have the Mindset to Be a Great Leader
[image error]Becoming a great leader is a work in progress. There are things that will accelerate your leadership and things that will hold you back. I believe that everybody has within them the potential to be a great leader. But it all starts, and ends, with mindset.
As a coach to top executives in leading industries, I’ve been able to observe the traits that the best leaders share. Here are some of the most significant. If this sounds like you, you could be on your way to greatness. And even if it doesn’t, you can get there—but you may need to adjust your thinking first.
1. Curious. Great leaders are always curious. They never turn down the opportunity to learn new things, and they know that an opportunity to learn can come at any time. A curious mind and love of learning are part of any great leadership.
2. Positive. Great leaders know the importance of positivity. When you have to deal with the reality of life it can be easy to become pessimistic—but great leadership requires a mindset that can turn what is bad into good, what is negative into positive.
3. Attentive. A great leader is a great listener. Many of us who know the importance of communication focus on speaking and writing well but forget about the critical skill of listening. Great leadership means making yourself into a great listener and encouraging others to share their thoughts.
4. Open. Great leaders are open—to people, ideas and opportunities. If you allow people to come to you with their thoughts and ideas and visions and you listen and you take it all to heart, you have the right mindset for great leadership.
5. Empathetic. Empathy is among the most important leadership skills—it allows leaders to connect and quickly tune in to how others are feeling. Showing care and compassion to others is part of great leadership.
6. Resourceful. Great leaders know how to tap into resources. As John Quincy Adams said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” Leaders know how to use whatever’s at hand and make the best of any situation. If people look to you in times of crisis, you have the resourceful mindset of a great leader.
7. Flexible. Great leaders know change is inevitable. They’re ready for anything the future brings because they embrace the very concept of change, and they never waste time trying to uphold the status quo. Great leadership means rolling with the changes.
8. Communicative. The best leaders communicate clearly and concisely. Whether it’s your long-range vision, your thoughts and opinions on a current situation, or even bad news, you need to communicate with sincerity, transparency and feeling.
9. Connected. Great leaders know the importance of connectedness. They work hard on creating and maintaining great relationships; they make it a priority to inspire, teach, support and encourage others. if you are a great networker because you genuinely love connecting with people, you have the mindset of a great leader.
10. Confident. Confidence is important for great leadership. If you accept that you are accountable for your own actions and behaviors and you are not into the blame game, if you have the confidence to admit when you are wrong and stand up when you’re right, you have the mindset of a great leader.
11. Principled. Values and convictions matter in great leadership. That means you know who you are and what you believe in, you’re committed to your values and you live your life according to those values. People feel inspired by your commitment and passion and will seek you out to connect.
12. Solution-seeker. Solutions are important to great leadership, because problems are everywhere. A future orientation will lead you to look outside the square to search for solutions, and when you find solutions you have the mindset of a great leader.
Lead from within: Great leadership comes from having a great mindset, so pay attention to what you think before it becomes how you act.
Additional articles you might enjoy:
The Difference Between Leaders and Managers
Why Great Leaders Expect Everyone to Be Great
The Best Leaders Are Great Coaches
21 Things New Leaders Should Do
Your Leadership Requires You to Have Guts
For coaching, consulting, workshops and speaking. Please feel free to contact us.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
The post 12 Signs You Have the Mindset to Be a Great Leader appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
February 7, 2017
7 Things You Need to Know to Improve Your Leadership Style
Many of us aspire to great leadership. But how do we recognize what great leadership even looks like? What are the attributes that make leaders great?
Here’s one of the most important: Highly effective leaders don’t rely on what they know but constantly work to improve who they are and what they do. Success usually lies between who you are and who you want to be, what you want to do and where you want to go.
Here are seven other attributes that great leaders tend to share. Think about which you should be incorporating into your own leadership—and remember that when success is within your reach, you still have to stretch to get to it.
1. They know how to forecast
You’d think that most leaders would spend their time thinking of what needs to get done today, but truly great leaders are visionaries who spend significant time forecasting the future. Truly great leaders look ahead. They see things not through the lens of current realities but in light of future possibilities. They know that present circumstances don’t determine how far they can go, only where they need to start.
2. They know how to formulate
Effective leaders can take a vision and formulate it into a well-organized plan that others can manage and follow. They know where they want to take others, and the plan articulates how they’ll get there. The best leaders keep in mind the importance of translating their vision into a reality.
3. They know how to present
Successful leaders are able to communicate and demonstrate a plan for action. They know how to get the right people in the right roles to get the job done well. They’re great at communicating complex problems in simple terms that people can understand. They’re able to share information in a way that people get it. For truly great leaders, communication must be HOT: Honest, Open and Two-way.
4. They know how to trust
Even the most talented, skilled leaders know that they cannot accomplish everything on their own, and they know how to trust others to get the job done. Confidence in your people is crucial; it allows you to focus on the things that only you can do, without feeling the need to micromanage others. Truly great leaders know this and because they trust their people, their people in turn trust them.
5. They know how to manage
A successful leader is someone who can not only lead but also manage. They know how to manage themselves before managing When they set goals for others—when they decide what work needs to be done and how to facilitate those goals so they get done—they are setting an example of effective management themselves by focusing on others to get things done.
6. They know how to expedite
Truly great leaders know how to facilitate and promote and stimulate their people by making what needs to happen a priority. They’re good at following through on plans and making sure everyone knows their role, serving as a catalyst and allowing their team to work together to get things done.
7. They know how to motivate
The best leaders are able to inspire and motivate people into taking action. They have the charisma and the character that inspire others to follow them. They’re able to lead by example, because they refuse to ask others to do what they can do for themselves. In setting a strong example, they motivate their people to do the same.
Lead from Within
The best leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them.
Additional articles you might enjoy:
Why Great Leaders Expect Everyone to Be Great
These 13 Things Will Kill Great Leadership
The Best Free Leadership Advice You’ll Ever Get
How to Tell You’re Dumbing Down Your Leadership
12 of the Most Dangerous Leadership Mindset
Photo Credit: Getty Images
The post 7 Things You Need to Know to Improve Your Leadership Style appeared first on Lolly Daskal.
7 Things You Need to Know To Improve Your Leadership Style
Many of us aspire to great leadership. But how do we recognize what great leadership even looks like? What are the attributes that make leaders great?
Here’s one of the most important: Highly effective leaders don’t rely on what they know but constantly work to improve who they are and what they do. Success usually lies between who you are and who you want to be, what you want to do and where you want to go.
Here are seven other attributes that great leaders tend to share. Think about which you should be incorporating into your own leadership—and remember that when success is within your reach, you still have to stretch to get to it.
1. They know how to forecast. You’d think that most leaders would spend their time thinking of what needs to get done today, but truly great leaders are visionaries who spend significant time forecasting the future. Truly great leaders look ahead. They see things not through the lens of current realities but in light of future possibilities. They know that present circumstances don’t determine how far they can go, only where they need to start.
2. They know how to formulate. Effective leaders can take a vision and formulate it into a well-organized plan that others can manage and follow. They know where they want to take others, and the plan articulates how they’ll get there. The best leaders keep in mind the importance of translating their vision into a reality.
3. They know how to present. Successful leaders are able to communicate and demonstrate a plan for action. They know how to get the right people in the right roles to get the job done well. They’re great at communicating complex problems in simple terms that people can understand. They’re able to share information in a way that people get it. For truly great leaders, communication must be HOT: Honest, Open and Two-way.
4. They know how to trust. Even the most talented, skilled leaders know that they cannot accomplish everything on their own, and they know how to trust others to get the job done. Confidence in your people is crucial; it allows you to focus on the things that only you can do, without feeling the need to micromanage others. Truly great leaders know this and because they trust their people, their people in turn trust them.
5. They know how to manage. A successful leader is someone who can not only lead but also manage. They know how to manage themselves before managing When they set goals for others—when they decide what work needs to be done and how to facilitate those goals so they get done—they are setting an example of effective management themselves by focusing on others to get things done.
6. They know how to expedite: Truly great leaders know how to facilitate and promote and stimulate their people by making what needs to happen a priority. They’re good at following through on plans and making sure everyone knows their role, serving as a catalyst and allowing their team to work together to get things done.
7. They know how to motivate. The best leaders are able to inspire and motivate people into taking action. They have the charisma and the character that inspire others to follow them. They’re able to lead by example, because they refuse to ask others to do what they can do for themselves. In setting a strong example, they motivate their people to do the same.
Lead from Within: The best leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them.
Additional articles you might enjoy:
Why Great Leaders Expect Everyone to Be Great
These 13 Things Will Kill Great Leadership
The Best Free Leadership Advice You’ll Ever Get
How to Tell You’re Dumbing Down Your Leadership
12 of the Most Dangerous Leadership Mindsets
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