Leaders in every organization and every type of work are always looking for ways to improve their results and bring out the best work in their team members. But for those new to leadership, it might seem like a bit of a mystery. How can leaders develop their employees? What is a good starting point? And where should they go from there?
Here are three essential leadership tips that leaders at every level in an organization should take to heart and practice daily.
Lead With Integrity
Just about everybody today has heard the phrase, “The buck stops here.” But what does that mean, and how does it apply to leadership?
It means that responsibility begins and ends right here, at this desk. Nobody is passing the buck-passing responsibility and blame – on to anybody else. So a strong leader is one who doesn’t make excuses and doesn’t point fingers at anyone else. Real leaders accept full responsibility for their results.
Responsibility and integrity go hand-in-hand. Good leaders start with themselves, develop themselves, work on their weaknesses, and lead by example. They don’t expect their employees to do things that they wouldn’t do themselves. In fact, they hold themselves to higher standards. Those who lead with integrity inspire their employees to do their best and to be their best.
Give Them More Responsibilities
Many leaders get caught up in micromanaging their employees. They love another old saying: “If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.”
But to be an effective leader, one must take intentional steps to delegate tasks to employees and trust them to do the job themselves. This not only frees up the leader for higher-priority tasks, but it also gives employees a sense of ownership over their work and pride in doing the job right.
Equip Employees to Do Their Best
A third way that managers can help their employees succeed and develop is to invest in them and equip them to do the job in front of them.
This means giving them the right training and skills. It means giving them the tools and resources necessary to complete their tasks efficiently. And it often involves investing in their future development by providing opportunities for ongoing education and advanced skills training.
Leadership, like any skill, is learned by doing. There’s no substitute for experience, and there is going to be a learning curve for everyone new to the position. But by following some basic, proven leadership strategies like those mentioned here, anyone can improve themselves as leaders and develop their employees to achieve their organization’s goals.