7 tips to improve leadership and be a better leader

Last month's newsletter discussed the variety of leadership styles that are available to you. This month we are looking more broadly at some tips you can use to take your leadership skills to the next level! We have therefore collated seven tips to improve leadership and created this succinct article for your benefit. This is the last of our leadership newsletters, so if you are looking for more insight into this topic, head over to the blogs section of our website or take a look at our older newsletters. For now, here are our top tips to improve your leadership!

PANDEK Group’s seven top tips to improve your leadership skills

Being a leader is like being a parent. At first, the job is completely new and almost certainly challenging. You don't really have a choice but to keep learning and growing in your role. There is no one-size-fits-all, pre-formulated pill to effective leadership as there are so many variables. Instead, consider some of the following tips to improve leadership and think about implementing these strategies in your daily life. They might not always be applicable, but we find they tend to crop up regularly enough.  

A LITTLE HUMILITY GOES A LONG WAY

Humility is the quality of having a modest view of one’s importance. For example, a leader with humility is often comfortable crediting others for their contributions at work. It also means that the best ideas are championed, regardless of whether the concept has originated from higher management or not. By remaining humble, you are also more likely to have effective team meetings, as employees will know that their ideas will be acknowledged.  

TREAT YOUR PEOPLE AS ASSETS

With so much focus on customers, we sometimes lose sight of our employees and their critical roles in our organisations. It’s always instructive to remember that organisations are the employees. As a result, customer service and quality are dependent on these skilled, motivated people. Invest some time in your employees, and you should see a return on these investments.  

LEAD BY EXAMPLE

The third of our tips to improve leadership is crucial for running effective meetings and increasing employee engagement. Exercising leadership often means articulating your vision (more on this in our next newsletter!) and inspiring people to rally around it. Always keep in mind that it is the passion for the work that binds you and your employees. Leaders should have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for the projects they work on. As a leader, you have to represent what you expect from the people who work alongside you. You can develop this leadership quality by thinking of different ways that you can express your zeal. Let people know that you care about their progress. It is always easier for employees to be engaged in their work when they are acknowledged. When someone decides to share something with the rest of the group, tell them how much you appreciate such contributions. 

BE REACTIVE

First you should take initiative and try to anticipate problems. Offering effective recognition and rewards are some of the best ways to help followers feel appreciated and happy. As a result, this can increase employee engagement and prevent problems from arising. That said, if your business does encounter issues, don’t wait for others to resolve the matter for you. As a leader, you are expected to be there to handle difficult situations. There are multiple ways you can do this, though. For example, you could resolve an issue yourself, or you could contact someone external to carry out a problem solving workshop. 

STAY ACCESSIBLE

Leave no room for frustration in your business. You must be available for your team and make them feel comfortable sharing their problems with you if necessary. By keeping your door open and inviting dialogue, you can create a healthy climate of trust that promotes the flow of ideas. Communication is and will always be the key to great teamwork – we see this all the time in meeting facilitation. Don’t place yourself on a pedestal by closing yourself off to criticism and new ideas.  

CULTIVATE YOUR EDUCATION

As a leader, the learning process should be continuous. You can work it into your daily routine, whether that be by watching the news, reading the paper or picking up an informative read in your local bookshop. Take stock of everything you have learned during your ascent to leadership. 

GIVE TIME TO REFLECT

The last of our 7 tips to improve leadership is reflecting. Working on self-awareness is the basis of emotional intelligence. Having a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses will better prepare you and your team for specific tasks. Often, we judge ourselves more favourably than others. Consider what you once expected from your superiors, how they could have improved and what did or didn’t motivate you to follow them. Then, write all this down and pinch those qualities you consider essential. It is necessary to have one or more sources of inspiration. Tap into people you admire and who are models of leadership for you. 

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of tips to improve leadership but merely a start. How you work with others can be influenced by many factors and restraints. Ultimately, it is down to you to know the balance, but always keep in mind the above points. 

In our next series of newsletters, we will be looking at the role of the Vision Statement, so make sure to keep an eye out on our social media for any news of that.  

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