By Solomon Thimothy, founder of OneIMS, a growth agency, as well as Clickx, a digital marketing analytics platform for agencies and businesses.
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You’re probably no stranger to New Year's resolutions. Whether you stick to them or move on to new goals in a few weeks, the changing year is a great time to think about what we want to accomplish.
But most of the time, we think about goals in terms of numbers. We set goals for improving revenue or growing our teams, but what about goals to improve our soft skills, like becoming a better leader?
Leadership is a lifelong learning process, but most of us don’t invest real time and effort into becoming a better leader. We may think it’s something that you’re born with or a position that is given to you. But investing in your leadership skills is incredibly important for building a business.
So, how do you become a better leader? Here are the qualities I believe every leader should have.
1. Get your team on board with your vision — don’t force it.
You have an idea of where you want your company to go, and you need the help of your team to get there. But if your team isn’t on board with the company’s vision, they’re not going to feel engaged with their work. This can lead to less employee satisfaction and higher turnover.
Instead of commanding your vision, spend time to get your team members just as invested in the outcome. Make it clear that this isn’t just your goal; it should be the entire team’s goal. When everyone is on board with your vision, you’ll face less resistance, and your team will feel more committed to seeing your goals become a reality.
2. Your team doesn’t work for you; you work for them.
As a leader, you’re not just delegating your work to the team below you. They’re not there to take tasks off your plate. Instead, you’re there to work for them — to help them get their job done as efficiently as possible.
Your team is looking to you for feedback and direction. Any great leader needs to know how to be there to listen, support and provide assistance whenever necessary.
3. Understand that people are individuals, not robots.
We often assume the people who work for us are just like we are. They’re motivated by the same things we are or get things done using the same processes. But the truth is, everyone on our team is an individual, and they have a different work and motivation style.
Understanding that each person on your team needs some individualized attention can help you better support each team member and show you care. When your team feels properly supported, they’ll be more invested in their work and the company as a whole.
4. Be a cheerleader.
When something goes wrong, it’s easy to get upset — especially if it’s a client-facing mistake or it throws a project off completely. But as a leader, it’s important to remember that things happen. And if you want your team to be better next time, you need to be their biggest cheerleader.
Help your team find areas of improvement to prevent the same mistake from happening again. But go beyond that to also celebrate the wins. When you’re congratulating your team through the good times and supporting them through the challenging, they will know you’re rooting for their success.
5. Make people feel valued.
We all want to feel valued and like the work we’re doing is appreciated, and your team is no different. Every great leader makes sure their team knows just how valuable they are.
Find opportunities to celebrate your team and encourage their professional development. Help your team invest in themselves and bring more value to the team. Regardless of where they’re at in the company or their careers, make sure your team knows just how valuable they are to you and your business.
Conclusion
Improving your leadership skills can vastly improve your business by investing in your team and the people around you. When you find new ways to support those working for you, you can create stronger connections, build greater employee loyalty and reduce turnover — all things that can help you build a better company and provide a better experience for your customers.
