Robert Joss
In today’s competitive world, leaders have to discover new ways to be successful—often times employing methods contrary to traditional wisdom or leadership styles. In fact, today’s leader will not be fully effective utilizing many of the conventional tactics of leadership without discovering new strategies to lead. With this in mind, below is a list of some of the top “don'ts” and “do’s” of effective leadership today.
#1 Don’t Dictate—Do Inspire
The most effective leaders today do not dictate rather they inspire. People do not want to be told what to do rather they seek encouragement and motivation from leaders. Leaders must learn how to inspire those whom they lead through many different means. Inspiring and encouraging rather than compelling and mandating will help leaders get full effort, respect, and participation from those they lead. And in the end will produce greater results.
#2 Don’t Direct—Do Persuade
Similar to number one, winning people over to your way of thinking or helping them believe in your plan goes a lot further than directing them constantly in what they need to do. Good leaders today know how to effectively persuade others to follow them and do what they’d like them to do.
#3 Don’t Criticize—Do Praise
It has been said that a pat on the back goes a lot further in helping someone to do a good job than a kick in the fanny. People respond well to praise and appreciation. Our world is full of criticism and most people already have enough critics. Thus, leaders who are able to see the good (and frequently point it out) rather than focus only on the bad will be much more effective in their leadership.
#4 Don’t Blame—Do Protect
When things go wrong, the effective leader takes full ownership of the results of his team and protects individual team members from ridicule or embarrassment. Good leaders prove they trust their team by standing by them and sticking up for them during the good times and the bad. Leaders must avoid pointing fingers or blaming others in order to be fully effective.
#5 Don’t Dominate—Do Involve
Successful leaders today do not dominate the decision making, idea-generating, or brain-storming, of the team. Rather, whenever appropriate and possible, they seek input, ask questions, and look for feedback and input from others. They strive to find the best solutions through collaboration because they understand that they do not know it all and that buy-in from the team is important to their success.
#6 Don’t Question—Do Believe
The effective leader believes in their team by empowering them to make decisions and raising their vision of themselves. In essence, the great leader gives their team a great reputation to live up to. Leaders who are constantly questioning motives or the abilities of their team will fail.
In today’s competitive atmosphere, it is time for leaders to embrace new leadership tactics and methods in order to more effectively lead. These are six ways to quickly improve our leadership abilities and our success. As we inspire, persuade, praise, protect, involve and believe in our team we will discover our ability to lead will increase. And though some of these tactics may force us to change, I believe each of us has the ability to implement them. And as we do, I know our results will improve.
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