By Jason Richmond, CEO and Chief Culture Officer at Ideal Outcomes, Inc.
Whether your company is small or large, the fact remains that team members look to their leadership for guidance, inspiration and direction. The well-known saying, “employees don’t leave jobs- they leave managers” acts as a cautionary tale for leaders to motivate their employees to success, rather than turn them running in the opposite direction- and likely into the open doors of a competitor. While it’s true that some people are born with the natural characteristics of a strong leader, there’s still hope for those looking to hone their craft. Becoming an effective leader requires attributes such as: humility, strength, transparency and the ability to communication consistently- but that’s not all; here are 4 other ways to effortlessly and successfully become a great leader for your team: Understand What’s Achievable There’s a difference between setting limitations and having realistic expectations. While no one wants to cut short the opportunities for success, there is something to be said about identifying legitimately feasible goals within the scope of time and budgets available. One information technology leader, says, “understanding what is achievable helps to outline the process and strategy. If you want to go from A to C, you’ll likely need to stop at B first- then move to the next phase. It’s all about being realistic with the expectations for your company and team.” Instill Usefulness In Others He suggests helping team members- especially those under your personal direction- to see themselves as vital and useful members of your organization. “This is how I see it: if you’re in a meeting but you’re not talking or adding any value, then you probably shouldn’t be in that meeting. We want our employees to feel valuable and validated- not just spectators in a company.”