A successful leader is often defined as a person who meets goals and accomplishes assigned tasks. However, there is much more involved in exceptional leadership. An exceptional leader not only performs his or her own work with success but develops, coaches and inspires each team member to do the same. Exceptional leaders also develop other leaders, creating opportunities for others to believe in themselves and reach for the stars!
This sure sounds like servant leadership to me!
How to Create Exceptional Leadership Skills
There are several methods leaders use to develop and inspire their team members to exceed company goals and develop into leadership positions:
Assign Tasks with Confidence
If your employees pick up on your lack of confidence in them, it can lead to poor job performance. When you are outwardly sure in your decisions, your confidence becomes contagious and others begin to believe in their abilities. Point out the employee strengths that led you to choose a team for a specific role; this information will help them see the project in a new light and invite them to use their unique skillsets to get the job done. Instead of anticipating failure, they will rise up to the new challenge. Show how you value each team member and they will value you.
Encourage Participation
Even the most experienced team leader can benefit from collaboration. When you invite your employees to contribute, you discover hidden talents, fresh approaches, and personal passions. Open discussions can lead to brilliant solutions. Perhaps one of your employees is in a department that doesn’t take full advantage of his or her skills and that employee may be able to make greater contributions on another team. A comfortable, collaborative environment can reveal that person’s true value to the company and open new doors. Be a humble leader and ask for input. The return will be invaluable.
Communicate Transparently
It is important for everyone on the team to understand the department’s big picture. If every team member is working from the same information, they can each focus on their specific objectives. This helps the employees understand where they fit into the overarching goal and gives them a sense of pride and ownership in the final results. Being transparent and an effective two-way communicator is critical in both leading and serving your team.
Reward a Job Well Done
If you want to keep your best talent with your company long-term, it is important to reward and recognize good efforts. Recognition is easy and doesn’t cost much. A public word of thanks in a company-wide meeting, a special lunch, or a meaningful trinket can all make an employee feel appreciated and motivated to continue doing good work. Employees must understand that you are invested in them and their career growth; otherwise, talented team members may start polishing their resumes for new job prospects. Exceptional leaders know the importance of designing a path of upward mobility so that skilled team members always have an eye toward further achievement within their current company.
Walk the Walk
Exceptional leaders don’t make exceptions for their own workplace habits. They constantly assess their own performance and serve as role models for their team members. If you don’t follow your own codes of professional conduct, your employees will not respect you. Consistency, integrity and credibility are key to building a workplace where team members feel comfortable stepping out of their comfort zones to make an impact.
A successful leader focuses on their people and not results. They invest in their people, coaching & developing each member to contribute to the best of their abilities. They great an unity of team, not individuals working on the same time. They do this by being present, consistent, humble, communicating and credible. All these attributes define not only a successful leader but one who leads by serving.
