Want to Become the Leader You Wish You Always Had?

We’ve all had good and bad bosses. Once you’re in a leadership position, though, your aim is to become the former – the kind of leader no one wants to leave. How can you avoid being the boss no one can stand and become the boss you wish you’d had? Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Keep the fundamentals in mind.

Good leaders aren’t necessarily warm and fuzzy. They inspire their team to do their best, to grow, and to reach their potential. They also challenge people and offer feedback on gaps and weaknesses. At the same time, they provide coaching and encouraging, helping to nurture talent along the way.

Be worthy of their trust.

Whether employees have an issue or concern, a question, or an idea, you want them to come to you and communicate. However, if they don’t trust you, they’ll keep these thoughts to themselves, which can lead to all kinds of problems on your team. Avoid this by being the kind of leader they can trust. Lead by example. Follow through and do what you say you will. Offer an open door policy and keep confidence. Be honest and optimistic about the future.

Give back to your team.

You shouldn’t be approaching your job each day with a “what’s in it for me?” attitude. Instead, think about how you can help your employees achieve goals, improve their performance, and become better at what they do. Work toward helping them attain their goals, asking them what you can do to help them succeed, and approach your job each day with an open mind and a generous heart.

Be honest and communicate often.

A lack of communication is one of the biggest problems on teams. It’s why, good, bad, or ugly; you should be communicating regularly with your team. Think about what you want the outcome to be in the short- and long-term, and be clear about goals and expectations. Be predictable and consistent with the way you treat people so they feel comfortable being open and honest in return.

Find strengths and assets.

If someone on your team is underperforming, don’t automatically fire or blame them. Perhaps they’re in a position that has evolved and no longer uses their strengths. It’s up to you, as the leader, to assess the strengths and weaknesses of those on your team and make sure they are in the best-fit positions. Work to align the strengths of each individual employee with the overall needs of the team.

Get help hiring for your team.

If you’d like to focus on business priorities and outsource the hiring and staffing work, turn to Provisional Recruiting. As a leading Northwest staffing agency, we can help you find and hire the talented people you need to reach new business heights. Contact us today to get started.