Everybody these days talk about leadership but what it actually is will vary from one individual to the next. It is really important that we understand various basic concepts associated with leadership in order to actually be able to become a more competent leader. Envision Experience and other organizations to offer lectures about leadership but if you do not know the basics, you will not gain any benefit.
People that are in charge of companies are managers but they are expected to also lead. Leading and managing are quite different. Managing basically involves properly using available resources like systems, schedules, tools, equipment and supplies. You need to have administration abilities but working with people is not something that is needed. Managers that lead will influence staff performance, making people perform better, as a collective and as an individual. Things are managed and people are led.
Remember that leadership is not strictly connected only to the managers or executives. Most leadership books talk about CEOs and generals but they rely on strategic things that could be done. In practice, leadership skills are necessary for absolutely everyone. Every single manager has to have strong leadership skills. In fact, whenever you work with people you have to be sure that you are a good leader so that everything is done better.
If you want to improve leadership skills, you need to work on them. You can do this in the following ways.
Develop
Know-how is highly necessary in order to work at full potential. Managers have to optimize abilities by helping people get better at the job done. Developing leadership and skills is the responsibility of the leader when managing a team. You do this by clearly stating expectation. You have to set an example, offer instructions, feedback and coaching.
Inspired
The team members may know exactly how to do something but they do want you to contribute. The influence you have on their wish to work with the team is huge. Contrary to popular belief, you cannot inspire through monetary incentives. You have to set an example, understand values, interests, needs, express team vision and assign appropriate tasks to all the right people. Appreciation has to be shown for the job that is well-done.
Support
You need to give your team members what is needed in order to succeed, allocate resources, information and remove barriers. Everything starts with delegation as guidelines, authority and responsibility are shared among team members, all along with assignments. Support should be offered while the work is done. As team members trust their leaders that they will get the support they need, work will always be better.
Encourage
Working is not easy. People almost always encounter mistakes, adversity-problems, failures and shortfalls. As something bad happens, people could quit or lose energy. You should always offer timely encouragement as a leader in order to help people work through adversity, all while continuing striving. Every single leader needs to be responsible and be an example for every single person that is encountered.
