techslog

Experts notice seven specific actions that leaders carry out, regardless of the organization or cause they lead.

Effective leaders:

Make others feel important. If your goals and decisions are self centered followers will lose interest quick. Focusing on their goals and their success ensures the success of your entire group, including yourself and conveys a tone of enthusiasm amongst your followers. Emphasize their strengths and contributions, not your own.

Promote a Vision. Followers need a clear idea of where you’re leading them, and they need to understand the goal is valuable to them- not just you. Your job as a leader is to provide that vision, and try to see it through their eyes.

Follow the Golden Rule. Treat your followers the way you enjoy being treated. An abusive leader loses followers and fast. Do unto others as you would yourself.

Admit mistakes. If people suspect you are covering up your own errors, they’ll hide mistakes too, and you’ll lose valuable information needed for making decisions. Your human, and once the mistake is acknowledged, it will be forgotten, as you refocus your followers back on your vision.

Criticize only in private. Public praise encourages others to excel, but public criticism only embarrasses and alienates everyone.

Stay Close to the Action. You need to be visible to the members of your organization. Talk to people, visit other offices, ask questions and observe. Often you will gain new insights into your work and find new opportunities for motivating your followers.

Make a game of competition. The competitive drive can be a valuable asset or a crippling one. If you use it correctly it can set team goals and reward members who meet or exceed them. Examine your failures for learning moments and celebrate your group’s success.