13 Tips on Providing Effective Leadership

Nyesom Wike: To be a leader, you don’t have to be an elected official or a CEO. Whether in day-to-day life, at school, or in the workplace, a leader is someone who provides example, guidance, and direction. A fancy title doesn’t make someone a true leader; rather, qualities and actions do. If you want to be the best leader you can, put effort into developing your skills, balance authority with compassion, and demonstrate that you’re worthy of your team’s trust.

See  also: 36 Tips to Start Business Making Wawona Strawberry Cup Ice Cream

Nyesom Wike

When you change your thoughts, remember to also change your world. You can request publication of your article for publication by sending it to us via our Email below. or call +2347034920650.  Click here to start business now with businesshab.com

businesshabblog@gmail.com

1. Be confident, even when you don’t have all the answers. Maintain good posture, make eye contact, keep your head up when talking, speak loud and clear, and use the right gestures when you speak to emphasize key points. Project confidence, and have faith in your ability to get your team from point A to point B. Additionally, be secure enough to admit when you don’t know something without letting it phase you.

• Imagine saying, “I don’t know,” while looking down and fidgeting. Now imagine saying, “I don’t know the answer, but I’ll look into it and get back to you,” as you stand up straight and look the person in the eye.
• Not knowing something doesn’t make you a bad leader. Ineffective leaders, on the other hand, get insecure and refuse to admit when they’re wrong.
• Keep in mind there’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Acknowledge that you don’t know everything, and avoid acting like you’re superior to everyone.

Nyesom Wike

2. Learn as much as you can about your field. Take every opportunity to refine your knowledge, whether you’re managing a sales team or the president of a school club. Knowing what you’re talking about will build your confidence and earn your team’s trust. While it’s impossible to know everything, your team will doubt your abilities if you say “I don’t know” to every question they ask.

• Even worse, if you don’t have an answer, make something up, and turn out to be wrong, your team won’t trust you.
• For example, if you’re planning a fundraiser at school for a charity, check the organization’s website for guides on coordinating events.
• If you’re the head of an engineering team, learn everything you can about the products you create, attend professional development events, and stay updated on relevant new technologies and software.
  

  Read also: 14 Tips to Start Business Designing Pressure Washing Logo for Money

3. Find a more experienced mentor. There’s always room to grow, even if you’re in a top leadership position. Reach out to a person you admire who has strong leadership skills. You could ask them to chat over coffee or lunch, or see if they’re open to being a long-term mentor.

• Look for role models who’ve overcome challenges and reached goals similar to your own. For instance, if you’re a young woman in high school or college, attend public speaking events by women in leadership positions.
• It might be intimidating to ask someone to be a mentor, but try to relax. Just get in touch with someone who’s achieved the goals you’ve set for yourself, show interest in their achievements, and ask for advice.
• In addition to seizing opportunities to learn from those with more experience, you should mentor those you lead.

4. Learn how to manage conflicts. If there’s a heated disagreement between team members, tell those involved to get their emotions in check. Have them take some time to cool down, if necessary. Identify the source of the conflict, and take steps to address it.

• Try to see each person’s perspective, and remain objective. If there’s a way to find a win-win scenario, do your best to negotiate a compromise.
• Suppose you run a factory, and a blueprint typo led to a canceled order. The salesperson is angry that they lost a commission and yells at the designer who made the typo. Instruct them to cool down, stress that getting angry is unacceptable, and assure both that a new double-check system will prevent future issues.
• Keep in mind in a professional setting, you might need to let HR handle an escalating conflict between employees.
  

  See also: 13 Tips on Developing Leadership Qualities

5. Be firm, but be kind. As a leader, you need to enforce clear rules and boundaries. However, your team will turn against you if you don’t balance authority with compassion.

• When you enforce a rule, explain to your team why that rule is important. Instead of barking, “Don’t waste paper,” tell your team, “Please try not to print something unless it’s absolutely necessary. Our supplies costs are way up, and it’s hurting the bottom line.”

Nyesom Wike

6. Be decisive instead of second-guessing yourself. Stand by your decisions, but don’t be a tyrant. Gather information, listen to a range of opinions, and make time for debate. Then, when the time for discussion is over, make a firm decision.

• Suppose you and your friends are debating on what to do that night. Everyone is dilly-dallying and nixing each other’s ideas. Then someone steps up and says, “Guys, we’re doing ‘this.’” That person rose to the top, saw the situation needed direction, and took charge.
• Keep in mind there will be times when you’ll have to make decisions yourself and times when you’ll need input. Ask yourself, “Will a snap decision compromise morale? Does a decision have to be made right now, or do I have time to discuss this with everyone else?”
• Be flexible and, if necessary, shift gears when new information becomes available.

7. Delegate tasks and explain roles clearly. A leader doesn’t micromanage their team or try to do everything themselves. When you assign tasks, define your expectations clearly and provide any necessary training. It’ll be easier to trust team members to perform a task if you set them up for success.

• A clear expectation would be, “Complete specification profiles for at least 5 installation projects by the end of the week.” A vague expectation would be, “Do some specification profiles.”
• When you need to train someone, demonstrate the task yourself, and narrate the steps as you perform them. If possible, observe them when they start and, if they make an error, gently correct them.
  

  Read on: 21 Strategies to Manage Pressure Washing Service Business

Nyesom Wike

8. Treat your team with respect. Show them sincere compassion, as they’ll be able to tell if you’re genuinely concerned for them. Hear them out when they express their opinions, praise them for their hard work, and never use inappropriate language. Remember, you set the tone, so model the type of behaviour you’d like your team to display.

• Bear in mind showing them respect doesn’t mean you should cave in to their whims. You’re in charge, and you know what’s best for the team.
• If someone disagrees with you, listen to their argument, and use their input to refine your decision. If you can’t use their suggestion, let them know that you respect their opinion, but are going in another direction.