The greatest challenge for any manager is to create an environment that allows the team to succeed while allowing all team members to play to their strengths. This is the ultimate goal of a functional manager in any organization.
In my coaching practice, I consistently see patterns of what works and what doesn’t work in the leaders whom I coach.
Certain qualities are critical in a leader in order to create outstanding results. These qualities are highlighted below.
Communicating and Holding the Vision
In order to to continue to inspire others, a leader’s message needs to be clear and concise and repeated often as part of every conversation. This is how the leader sets the tone and supports the environment.
Clear Boundaries and Accountability
An effective leader establishes authentic connections while setting clear boundaries and accountability. As a leader, you need not be perfect, but you do need to “walk the talk” of your vision and goals. Any inconsistencies in what is said and done affects both morale and performance.
Your actions speak very clearly to those around you. Roles need to be clearly defined and in the best high-performing teams, everyone holds each other accountable. All team members need to understand their roles and how critical they are to the team’s overall success.
Ability to Shift Perspective
Great leaders are able to consider a variety of possibilities and shift focus on a task or project when an idea from the team emerges. This ability to shift gears at key times is critical to the team’s success. The best teams operate as if they are a single entity moving toward the same goal. They are focused on a clear path yet nimble in their approach.
Becoming a Great Leader
So where do you start the process of being a great leader? It all begins with self-awareness. In order to lead effectively, you need to have a clear perspective of who you are and what your impact is on others.
You lead through your mannerisms, personality, and behavior. You need to understand yourself and your impact in order to be an effective leader. You are the one who ultimately sets the stage for your team’s success.
Begin with Self-Awareness
In my work with leaders, I always begin with self-awareness. Understanding who you are allows you to appreciate and perhaps adapt behaviors that may be inadvertently sabotaging the efforts of the team. Once the leader understands the process of behavior change, he or she is able to create an environment that allows all team members to adapt and flourish.