The Leader in you! 8 Guidelines for Becoming a True Leader
The 1st guideline to being a successful leader is to understand the importance of being a shining example to your team and showing them how they can count on you to be there. When the going gets tough for your team they need and want to see the leader take control and help them through their obstacles and be a stabilizing force for them to succeed. There is an old saying that says a coward dies a thousand deaths and the man/woman with true courage dies only once is very true in business and personal life. The leader must have the courage to lead his/her team with a positive attitude and the power to make a difference in the teams confidence level that we can achieve if we all pull together. You being the leader must portray that unbendable courage at all times. Never back down and never surrender and always look for new viewpoints to work from.
The 2nd guideline is to have think tanks not meetings. Schedule meetings for the new things that must be implemented into the work structure. However, when looking for new ideas have group think tank sessions and have all the ideas laid out for all to examine. As the leader keep the group positive and allow them to expand their own ideas and the ideas of others to make a larger idea. Do not allow any negative ideas about why something will not work. Once solid ideas have been created and structured allow another day for the negative ideas about the new ideas to come forward. But, use the negative ideas to help restructure the other positive ideas into a better idea. Then it is time to test the market and see what really works and adjust from there.
The 3rd guideline is to always look to expand your knowledge and wisdom base. Always be reading and doing seminars and workshops to increase your knowledge and personal development. You are the centralized hub of what works and what does not. Allow all of your team to see you constantly studying and learning and trying new things. The team wants a know it all that is willing to try new things for the sake of the team. So come off with your knowledge and ideas as another idea to try just like the rest of the teams ideas. This way there will be no animosity towards your knowledge and wisdom. When they see you work for it and you are not the wonder kid the team will respond far better to you and all you wisdom and knowledge.
The 4th guideline is to always be on the look out for an area in the company that someone may be better at then what they currently do on the team. Always make the switch to another division a positive switch and not that the person who is being transferred is less then adequate for their current position. Instead of hiring out side the firm look for the people in your company that you feel are a great fit for the new division and then hire for their spot that is now open. Moving people around first so that they are fitted into the team spot will boost confidence and fill key places with already established staff. Bottom line; help your people grow!! Personal development is for everyone.
The 5th guideline is to create an outing among all key staff personal every 3-6 months and invite other staff members that you feel are up and comers. Give away special prizes to everyone that attends even if they were not expected to show. Everyone loves praise and attention so surprise them with something that recognizes the greatness in them and for what they have performed.
The 6th guideline is to be flexible with your team but make them fully participate in their position. If they have to be off a day make them find their replacement and then you give the final approval on their choice. If it is not the right choice make them figure it out again. Getting your team to think about the ramifications for their personal actions is a great way to increase confidence and the personal role they play in your company and the team. This will breed greater personal development and foster greater personal responsibility.
The 7th guideline is to never allow a team member to present a problem that they do not have at least one answer for. This is the personal responsibility factor again. Your job as a leader is to train others to be leaders and to have personal conviction. This will help your team and company grow in an expedited way. The stronger your team the more responsibility they can foster the more work can be done because there is strong management all the way to the top!
The 8th guideline is leading by example!!! What ever the rules are, be sure that you follow them to the letter. Do not ask others to do what you your self are not willing to be seen to do. Do as I say and not as I do no longer works well as a productive model in a company or a relationship. Be willing to be the lead dog and let others see you doing it. When they see you do it, and then you ask them to do it, it is not as big of a deal. Be the role model for the team that you want and you will notice that your team becomes unified and an exact model of you and your leadership ability. Let me talk to a team member for ten minutes and I will know how they have been lead.
Creotology
Live it, and Succeed!!
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