We have all had our share of really
amazing, and truly terrible, managers. Which means we all know, first hand,
that the quality of our work in the past has directly correlated with the
quality of leadership we were working under. Not that you would ever admit to
that in an interview or meeting with superiors, but… it’s true. We all work
harder for the kind of leaders we actually want to follow.
One of the most memorable pieces of
advice I ever received from a manager came early in my career. He explained that
a good leader never takes the credit and always takes the blame. It was a
piece of advice that resonated with me, as I worked hard to always push the
praise for a job well done down the ladder, and to absorb the responsibility
when things went wrong, even when it killed me to do so. I truly believe that
the ability to do exactly that is part of what makes a person a leader others
want to follow.
But what else can you do to be one of
those leaders people will always want to work their hardest for?
Set the Example: Thinking
back on the worst supervisors from your work history, you can probably pick
upon a few who never seemed to put in the same level of effort they demanded
from their team. They were always showing up late, ducking out early, and
scheduling work “meetings” on the golf course. It often seemed as though they
were delegating their entire workload, and they never gave credit for quality
work being produced by others. Those experiences should have taught you one
thing: being a quality leader means first being willing to lead. And that
starts by being the example you want your employees to follow. Practice what
you preach, and always hold yourself to a higher standard than anyone else.
Show Interest: Being
the type of leader people genuinely want to produce good work for isn’t just
about being successful in business; it is also about being a compassionate
and caring human being. Show an interest in who your workers are outside of
work. Learn the names of their family members and ask about the coursework
you know they are pursuing. There is a line to walk, between supervisor and
friend, and you want to make sure you are always erring on the side of
supervisor; but that doesn’t mean you can’t express a genuine interest in
what makes your employees whole people.
Encourage Development: The
best leaders are those willing to nurture and grow their replacements. No,
that doesn’t mean you are hand selecting the person who will take your place
when you retire twenty years in advance, but it does mean you don’t fear or
avoid helping those who are working under you to grow in their own career
paths. When employees feel as though you are invested in their futures, they
are so much more loyal to you and yours.
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Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Strategic Leadership: Being a Leader That People Want to Follow
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