Being a good leader means setting a confident,
positive example for team members to follow, on top of effectively
communicating with employees. Strong leadership is beneficial to both your
company and employee base, increasing overall happiness and morale while
elevating your bottom line. Business News Daily reports that,
“...employees who work under great leaders tend to be happier, more productive,
and more connected to their organization.”
But what makes an effective leader? For
starters, you can inspire your employees to be their best selves
by using various Lean-based leadership tools. By avoiding micromanagement,
ensuring that employees are well-trained, and promoting a healthy work-life
balance, you’re actively demonstrating your strong leadership skills.
Yet that’s only the beginning, and leadership
tools are something you’ve likely picked up along the way: In fact, the bulk of
effective leaders have particular, inherent characteristics that are an asset
to businesses in every industry. Studies show that high-quality leaders are 13 times more likely
to outperform their industry counterparts, and are integral to a company’s
operations, profitability, employee morale, and more.
The following five examples are just a few of
the attributes that allow strong leaders to stand out from the crowd, and excel
in their chosen field. Using these traits, effective leaders are also better
able to smoothly lead their teams through major business and policy changes.
1. Confidence
Effective leaders are sure of themselves and
their decisions, at least on the surface. It can take time to develop
confidence, but the good news is that it can be faked, and/or developed over
time. For starters, rather than dwelling on your mistakes, acknowledge where
you went wrong and ask yourself how you can do better in the future. Negative
thoughts and self-talk have no place in the mind of a confident leader.
Improving your confidence may also serve as a
useful decision-making tool. As a leader, you’re often tasked with making tough
decisions, sometimes on the fly. Having confidence in yourself and your
abilities can help fuel your decisiveness and ability to effectively lead your
team to greatness.
2. Imagination
The thought process of effective leaders tends
to move so fast that it may seem like a superpower. Great leaders are able to
quickly process the myriad data tossed their way and offer tangible solutions
and ideas, even under the pressure of a looming deadline.
And while intelligence is influenced by a variety of factors,
including nutrition and availability of learning resources, imagination stems
from both the way we think, and what we know. As you hone your leadership
skills, make sure to do plenty of research about your company, its competitors,
and the industry itself. Having a large data set in your mental arsenal allows
you to more effectively connect the dots when you’re faced with a workplace
challenge.
3. Innovation
For many entrepreneurs in leadership
positions, an active imagination helps spark innovation. In modern times, for
example, the iPhone stands out as one of our greatest (and most innovative)
inventions in modern times. It’s common knowledge that the iPhone is the
brainchild of Steve Jobs, but how did he come up with the concept of a device
that would ultimately change the world?
In fact, Jobs developed the initial iPhone
based on the concept of simplicity, and how it connects to design, elegance,
and sophistication. His innovative invention is a prime example of effective
leadership in action — the iPhone spawned a revolution, and as of January 2020,
Jobs’ legacy, and his Apple company, is worth $1.3 trillion.
4. Humanity
For everyday workers, leaders such as Jobs may
appear larger than life, enjoying a sort of celebrity status throughout the
office or collaborative community. But it's a leader's ability to remain human,
humble, and approachable that allows him or her to truly make waves. Employees
are more likely to trust a leader who supports and facilitates them, rather
than sitting in the corner office with the door closed.
And when employees trust and believe in their
leaders, company morale is likely to grow. Employees are more prone to
excellence when they work for a company and leaders who they believe in. What’s
more, humanity among company leaders can help build a strong and company
culture, which benefits all involved, from yourself to your customers.
5. Adaptability
No matter the strength of your company culture,
however, change is inevitable. It’s the capacity with which you handle that
change that determines the true strength of your leadership. During policy
transitions or company reorganization, it’s a leader’s job to facilitate that
change.
Your employees may respond to change in
varying ways, up to and including the so-called seven stages of change, which begin with shock
and frustration, eventually culminating in integration. As a leader, you must
be prepared to help guide your employees through every stage, and demonstrate
how well you can adapt and thrive through any change.
Final Thoughts
Effective leadership is both a cornerstone of Lean principles and a necessity
in today’s constantly evolving business landscape. Whether you’re already in a
leadership position or aspire to be, ensuring that you possess a number of
positive leadership traits can help ensure your continued success.
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