Last Updated on September 2, 2024
As a leader you have a tendency to repeat behavior that becomes both automatic and unconscious over time. That’s why most leaders are used to making decisions in the amount of time needed by others to understand the question. They’re on another level. This stumps beginners whom are looking to become leaders. The most common question becomes: How do leaders make great decisions even when they find themselves under pressure?
The answer is that all their decisions are made based on accumulated experiences from past situations which have helped them grow in their field.
It’s no surprise that great decisions are instinctual. In time, great leaders get used to being under pressure. This become a normal feeling for them and they know how to control it. On the other hand, regular people get stressed when they’re under pressure. They begin making deficient decisions because their brain goes into panic mode.
Not everybody is born to become a leader, and those who manage to achieve success definitely deserve to be rewarded with high salaries. If you want to become a better leader, you should start by taking a look on the following activities that should be done automatically, every day.
1. Let others know they can speak up
Leaders can intimidate their employees with their power and title. However, a good leader knows that the best way of hearing the others’ points of views is by encouraging them to speak up. Everybody deserves a say, and everybody has an opinion.
2. Make decisions
As a leader, you should be an expert at making decisions, whether you make them yourself or you facilitate the dialogue so that you encourage your employees to reach an agreement. Besides, successful leaders know everything about politics, and thus, they don’t waste useful time on problems that are not very important.
3. Communicate Expectations
Leaders need to be great communicators, especially when they share their performance expectations. Reminding your colleagues about your company’s goals, that have to be accomplished, is essential and should be done carefully. Communicating expectations can increase performance, and also help identify the members of the team that cannot live up to your expectations.
4. Challenge your colleagues to think
A successful leader understands the capabilities and weaknesses of his/her colleagues, and uses this knowledge to challenge them. These are the leaders who excel at helping their employees specialize in particular fields, by simply preventing them from getting too comfortable.
5. Make sure you’re accountable to others
Good leaders allow themselves to be managed by colleagues, without becoming controllable. They make sure that their colleagues come to them every time they’re in need. This makes others acknowledge that their leader doesn’t think only about himself/herself.
6. Lead by example
This means you should analyze your actions and practice exactly what you preach. Once you act impeccably, your colleagues will see you as an example and try to act like you. If you say one thing and do another, you’re basically a hypocrite. Always follow your own teaching.
7. Measure and reward performance
This type of leadership implies valuing the people whom are responsible for the company’s success. Therefore, you should try to measure your employees’ performance and reward their achievements, while also promoting them as good examples for others.
8. Provide continuous feedback
Good leaders prove to their employees that their attention and activity is is turned to them. They provide feedback and encourage their colleagues to do the same, thus heartening a trustworthy relationship.
9. Assign and deploy talent accordingly
As a good leader, you should be aware of your talent pool and learn to use it as often as you can. You should know how to activate your employees’ capabilities and their particular skill-sets.
10. Ask questions and seek counsel
If you want to become a successful leader, you will have to constantly ask questions. Even though leaders radiate the “I know everything vibe,” they sometimes need to enrich their knowledge and find out new things. Nobody is perfect. A good leader is constantly trying to learn something new.
11. Solve problems and avoid procrastination
Famous leaders know how to find a problem and keep it under control. They don’t procrastinate, and they’re very efficient when it comes to solving problems.
12. Positive energy and attitude
A good leader knows that the best workplace is one that’s always positive and inspiring. As a result, you should always motivate your colleagues and encourage them to be positive. Failures should never disrupt momentum. After all, failures allow us to learn from our mistakes.
13. Be a good teacher
Many employees complain that bosses don’t know how to be teachers. A successful leader never stops teaching, and always looks for methods of informing his/her colleagues about trends, statistics, etc.
14. Invest in relationships
Instead of protecting your domain, you should try investing in relationships. Try to share your success and build momentum for all your employees. This will result in tighter relationships. Hierarchy is gross. Make your employees feel that you’re all on the save level.
15. Enjoy responsibilities
You can’t be a leader if you don’t love what you do. This means that you should enjoy not only your power, but also the responsibilities that come with that power. A good leader should serve others, and this task cannot be accomplished by someone who doesn’t genuinely enjoy what he/she is doing.
I believe the tips mentioned above will help you. Don’t try to apply every single thing mentioned at once. Take tiny steps, and eventually you’ll become a great leader.
Remember: Practice makes perfect.