So, you want to know about how to make a great leader because you’re either volunteering yourself as a leader in your team, you are appointed as a leader, or you had to be a leader as it's the zombie apocalypse in your area. 🧟 Good news for you, these characteristics could be learned and practiced over time ( this does not include the leader in the zombie apocalypse area, may the force be with you, mate!) 😂
As a leader, you need to communicate with your team well. This is to ensure that both you and your team understand the company’s direction and goals. A leader must also be transparent to their team members. Any issues should be informed and tackled as a team, and not be kept as a secret to benefit some parties.
A clear direction could assist each team member to reach their goals and work on their performance. This could also prevent the feeling of demotivation at work; “Are we there yet?”
Be an active listener. Every issue big or small should be taken into consideration. This action portrays that you are always there for your team and they could rely on you at any time.
You know the contagious yawn effect; when someone yawns and everybody else near the person will start yawning too? The same theory can be implemented with the level of confidence. If a leader is not confident, how does he or she expect the team to be confident?
A leader must have a good self-esteem and leadership skills to lead the team. If the leader is afraid to make a move, that explains why the team is choosing not to take any action at all. If the leader confidently plans strategy after strategy, the team will cooperate to be involved in those strategies and work hard to win together as a team.
Lead your team to feel and be confident through you.
It takes courage to be a leader in the first place. The people that work with you will grow and hit the ground together with you under your leadership. Drawbacks are expected but how do you motivate the team to get their feet back up again when things are not working out? As a leader, you can influence the team’s spirit and set the working culture.
A resilient character is not a persona that hides hurtful feelings or is in a state of denial towards struggles. It is a situation in which we acknowledge our sadness, we accept and experience our low moments in life and we rise back up again after the tragic experiences.
Be the role model presenting a good example of how to manage issues well emotionally when the odds are not in their favor.
There is a study that shows that people do not leave their jobs because of the workload but they leave due to the lack of sense of empathy by their bosses.
Let’s take a step back. If a team member shares with you that they are experiencing a mental health issue, would you take some time off your schedule to understand the situation or would you listen and leave the issue as it is?
Your sense of empathy might need some work if you prefer to choose the latter. A short coffee session or small talks during office breaks weekly goes a long way. Show that you care and imagine yourself in their shoes. As a leader, you do not have to present in PowerPoint the multiple ways you think could help your team member. Sometimes all they need is a place to share their stories and someone willing to listen.
Your efforts to reach out means the world to them and at the same time, creating a better and enjoyable workplace.
If A, B, C did not work, let’s try 1,2,3. Creativity has been proven to lead to civilization and a cost-effective approach to solving problems. Sometimes a complex way of thinking seems to blinds us away from the common-sense solution in front of us. We have all been there. “Like, oh yeah! What can't I think of that?
A creative leader could realize and create creative problem-solving during critical times. If you are feeling pressured because your creativity level is far from Albert Einstein or Walt Disney, don’t worry as there are many ways to actively connect those neurons of yours.
Read here on ways to improve your creativity level. Practice with your team too!
Positive vibes work like the sunlight that shines through the park during the day. Greeting the birds, flowers, and green grass. The sunlight makes everyone ready to face the day with excitement and full of hope.
Be that sunlight. A leader that connects team members . A leader that wants their team members to grow and succeed, and shed a light during times in need.
If you pretend to be positive, that is toxic positivity where you fake a smile and tell the entire kingdom that it is going to be okay when you and your organization are obviously on the edge of the cliff.
Genuinely, practice positive culture in you, and your team will bring your organization steps further.
An innovator welcomes ideas and is open to discussion with other people. They celebrate new ideas and consider other suggestions. A leader that encourages others to think outside the box to produce great products, services, and ideas.
This will not only benefit the organization, but also the team’s growth and career development. The team that wins together will indeed stay together. That's what makes a leader great!
Some great things happen when a leader dares to take a risk or two. Taking a risk could provide a better outcome than what we expected. However, there are some things to be considered before making a risky decision such as the effects on your team or the effects on you as a leader. Is the risk worth fighting for or will the risk cause more harm than good?
A good leader will take into consideration the benefits to both sides; the organization and the team members. Not taking the risk does not mean that you are afraid to take the risk, it means you are taking precautionary steps to prevent your team and organization from getting negatively affected.
Read here on How to be a Leader that Communicates Better.
Want to get insights from great leaders in the design industry? Book a session with our mentors at ADPlist !
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