I’m sure you have heard this before, but it bears repeating: People don’t leave companies, they leave managers.
Connect expertise with leadership. Generally, these managers are not “bad” people; some simply lack effective leadership skills. In today’s fast-paced work environment, some employees are assigned leadership positions because they possess subject-matter expertise. While valuable, this expertise doesn’t mean that they have the ability or the acquired skills necessary for leading and managing others. In order to cultivate leadership skills, people need to spend time with other leaders (mentoring relationships), and they also need leadership training.
Develop positive relationships. I work in the trenches, and I have had some great and some not-so-great managers. I have seen first-hand how leaders have the power to positively (or negatively) affect individuals in their groups simply by the ways they interact with them.
As a leader, you are as successful as the employees you manage. Invest time in developing positive relationships with those you manage, and you will see the difference it makes!
Review effective leadership criteria. So, are you an effective leader? Take an inventory and ask yourself if you meet the criteria below.
Effective leaders:
- Reflect the values of the company they serve.
- Adopt an attitude of servant leadership.
- Care about the employees they work with and take time to find out what is important to those they manage.
- Celebrate the accomplishments of others and lift up others on their team.
- Spend time not only talking with their employees but also listening.
- Hold their group accountable, pick them up when they fall and inspire them to achieve.
- Share the spotlight and give credit where it is deserved.
- Recognize and reward on a regular basis.
- Influence and have the ability to form relationships that produce results.
- Admit to mistakes and apologize for them.
- Accept responsibility for company guidelines and policies.
- Create a culture of trust among group members.
Refine your leadership skills. What can you do to refine your leadership skills?
- Read. There are tons of wonderful management and leadership books with great advice. Take time to enrich yourself with a book.
- Review management-development classes--- with online or instructor-led course offerings. See what your company offers in the way of management development. Take advantage of programs offered, and put into practice what you learn.
- Build relationships with your human resource team. They are a valuable resource. This group works with employees every day, and they may have some valuable ideas, tools and insight for you.
- Professional organizations. If you belong to a professional organization, take advantage of the tools and networking opportunities available.
- Find a mentor to help you. This person may be your manager or someone else outside your company. There are also Web-based management development firms that offer mentoring services.
- Get feedback from those that work with you. If positioned right, you might get some worthwhile and reflective ideas about areas of improvement.
It is not too late to develop or enhance your leadership abilities. In the words of Peter Drucker, a business management consultant and author, “Leaders grow; they are not made.” This is a call to action! Take time to grow! You won’t regret it!
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