3 Smart Reasons to Learn to Delegate

Leaders, do you monitor your employees’ work too closely?

There’s a word for that. It’s called micromanaging.  It makes your job harder than it has to be. If only you could learn to delegate more tasks, you would feel less overwhelmed and your employees would feel more valued.

Here is what leadership development programs have to say on the subject.

1. By giving over responsibility for specific tasks to your team, you are showing your confidence in their ability to deliver and they will feel engaged in the process and that they own the project.
2. If you do not oversee their every move, they will feel more confident, trusted and likely to update you on progress on their own…as well as check in with you if they have any questions.
3. The employee becomes accountable for a job well or poorly done and know that they now have a chance to demonstrate their abilities.

When “No” Is the Right Answer

How hard is it to say “no” to a special request from your boss or when a new account walks in the door?

Very hard.

But sometimes, leadership development programs say, it is the right answer.

Consider a time when you are already so overworked that you knew ahead of time that you could not turn in the quality work your boss expected of you. Or think about the consequences of taking on a new account before thoroughly evaluating whether you can really deliver what they need.

You should say “no” when the consequences of refusing the request are less than the consequences of saying “yes.”

Don’t give the knee-jerk response that avoids discomfort in the short-term but invites disaster in the long-term. Take the time to think it through. Then, if you decide “no” is the right answer, deliver the news in a way that shows your intentions are to be supportive. Paint a picture of the consequences of saying “yes” and then offer to work on the solution. 

Why Leaders Must Shed Their “Protective Shell”

Many leaders surround themselves with a protective shell. They disregard their feelings and put on a hard, isolating exterior. They feel that showing much emotion is a sign of weakness not becoming of a leader.

On the contrary, leadership development programs now advocate that showing one’s human side is a sign of great leadership.

Leaders need to connect with their followers. By denying emotions, they distance themselves from those they need to communicate and empathize with. Instead of appearing strong and in control, they show themselves as remote and uncaring. Leaders who are in touch with their emotions are able to communicate more effectively because they understand what others are feeling and can empathize. The more “human” they are, the more they can reach, influence and lead others – especially during times of change.

Truly effective leaders get it. They know what their followers are capable of, when it is time to march forward, and when it is time to gather consensus. The better they understand their team (and their team understands them), the better they can lead.

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.