Becoming a leader! Often stated as one of the aims alongside the personal career path, this wish does not only bring the chance to develop and to be promoted but also a lot of risks and challenges. The following 10 tips for new leaders – and all leaders in general – may support you on the road to success.
1) „Leadership is not a position, it is a decision.“
Leaders aren’t made by business cards. Being a leader means the decision to lead others and to really want to do that. With being a leader you decide yourself to be an idol, to consequently work on your skills and to go ahead responsibly.
2) Leaders aren’t perfect from day number one.
Nearly nothing does work overnight, least of all a big task like being a good leader. Alongside the way, review your fails with interest and fascination instead of demonising them. Consider your development process as an exciting challenge.
3) Leadership starts with you.
Often cited but still true. If you want to successfully and effectively lead others you have to lead yourself first. Especially for new leaders this is one of the most important principles.
4) Trust is the foundation of good team work.
When it comes to successfully leading teams of employees it is all about exerting influence on others, about inspiring others, convincing them of ideas and aims and winning their favour. To achieve all that, trust is the essential foundation.
5) You can’t motivate your employees. Motivation must come from themselves.
This might sound a bit odd but it is a proven fact: If it’s not inside your employees you can’t raise it. As a leader, what you can do is creating an environment which supports motivation. New York Times bestselling author Daniel H. Pink says that this environment is based on the three factors autonomy, mastery and purpose. His entertaining and easy to understand video shows the insights of this concept.
6) Be aware that leadership needs a lot of time.
New leaders often have been the expert in a certain field before they got promoted. A typical mistake is that they want to keep this expert role and the related tasks. With the very time-consuming task of being a leader, most of the time that’s not possible. Dare to leave something behind and accept your new role with the new and exciting tasks and challenges.
7) You set an example! Be aware that your employees notice everything.
And often it’s more than just noticing: As a new leader you will be closely observed from all sides. Whether you are walking through the office, sitting in a meeting or taking a decision: be aware of that “example-effect”. And also pay attention to your facial expressions and gestures.
8) Be prepared for any meeting and conversation and always know the facts as well as your aims.
This sounds self-evident and it really should be. In order to record success as a new leader never attend a meeting or a conversation without preparing yourself.
9) Encourage desired behaviour with positive feedback.
No matter if you give it or you ask for it: Effective feedback is a powerful leadership instrument.
10) Depending on situation and level of development, any employee requires a different leadership style.
It is true that any leader has to find and develop his very own leadership style. But in practice that is not enough. The key is situative leadership. This means that, with any employee and in any situation, successful leaders choose the appropriate leadership style in order to win the employee’s favour and to head in the same direction.
Related articles:
- Are you a manager or a leader? – Do the check
- Successful communication with the power of Kung Fu
- Lead the way with effective feedback
- Monster or softy – How do you lead your employees?