A Little Humility Goes a Long Way: 5 Smart Leadership Tips

When it comes to leadership, a little humility goes a very long way to gaining the trust and loyalty of your followers. Leaders should not assume they know it all…they don’t. And leaders should not just tell people what to do…rebellion will result.

Here are some tips from leadership development programs that will keep you leading in a positive, constructive way:

1. Ask, don’t tell. Find out what the team wants and needs before you act.
2. Dig in alongside your team. If, in crunch time, you ask them to spend long hours on the job, you should be willing to do the same.
3. Have their back.  Show that you back them up and they will do the same for you.
4. Do What You Say You Will Do.  Follow through on all your promises. If you want them to take commitments seriously, so must you.
5. Set expectations clearly, ask for questions or concerns, and then listen carefully. Respond with understanding. This is the way to create an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. 

3 Smart Ways to Lead When All Seems Lost

Leading when all goes well can be both challenging and rewarding. But what about when there is a crisis? Leading then can be almost overwhelmingly challenging…and there are no rewards in sight. And yet this is when true leaders emerge.

What you need to apply is a combination of action learning and leadership development. Here are some steps to take:

1. Be realistic but positive. Encourage the best efforts of your team by giving them a vision of success at the same time as you acknowledge the difficulties ahead.
2. Choose your team well. Select team members who are not only willing to put forth the extra effort needed but also have the talents required to solve the problem. Recognize, too, that you may need to recruit others with special skills as the situation evolves.
3. Stop talking and start acting. Too much discussion can lead to inertia. Begin the work you have outlined. Be disciplined at the start going step-by-step but realize that flexibility will be needed too. Be open to new ideas and new paths as your journey begins.

How to Tailor Your Leadership Style

You will be much more effective as a leader and manager if you carefully consider which style works best according to the situation. One size does not fit all when it comes to leading and managing. Action learning and leadership development experts recommend that you choose your approach only after thinkingthrough what your employee needs …coaching or instructing.

For example, if you have an employee who does not have the skill to accomplish the task you have assigned, you will need to provide instruction or give them the opportunity to observe the skill in action and then to practice it themselves. However, if your employee has the skill but simply lacks confidence, a better approach is coaching. In this case, you provide support and guidance. Encourage the employee to solve the problem. Discuss the solution together. Listen well. Ask questions that lead toward a satisfactory conclusion.

In either case, you have given your employees the tools they need to grow in their job. And isn’t that what management is all about?

Leadership Plans Gone Astray

Despite the best laid plans, many executives take what appear to be easier routes when they adjust their strategies along the way. Leadership development programsadvise against taking the low road. Sometimes the more difficult path is what will result in your success.

Here are three ways to avoid strategies that will lead you astray:

1. Do not accept sub-standard performance in your marketplace. You should not settle for a choice that was made under different conditions. Change to accommodate the new situation and be patient as the adjustment is made.
2. Choose to be selective. You cannot satisfy all the needs of all your customers. Identify what you can do and who you can serve well and then eliminate the rest. Focus on your strengths.
3. Do not assume that an acquisition will make the difference between success and failure. All too often acquisitions are made for the wrong reasons. Instead of guaranteeing success, they often muddy the waters so that the winning strategy is obscured and lost.

Leadership and Choosing Your Playground

One of the most important decisions leaders need to make for their organizations is where they will play. They need to identify the most attractive marketplace where they have the greatest chance to succeed.

Some decide that they should meet their biggest competitor right on the same ground, vying with similar products/services for the same customers. But experts from leadership development programs advise against always going head-to-head on thesame playing field. Rather than compete where there are few entry points, try looking for points of weakness. Coming in with unexpected force is a strategy with a far great likelihood of success.

They also advise against trying to open up a brand new field. Unless you have a lot of experience in this particular market and with this product/service, you are likely to find that you are not the first (or best) for long.  This creates a great deal of risk.

Be strategic when you choose your playground. The choice is critical and can make or break your legacy`.