Great leaders don’t have to be few and far between when you acknowledge that leadership isn’t just about having authority over other people. It’s more about nurturing relationships with them. Effective leadership doesn’t only mean that you know the strengths and weaknesses of your employees but that you respect their working styles as well.
This can be challenging, especially when you’re trying to balance your role in managing the business and promoting the well-being of your workers. Fortunately, you have in your hands some valuable data to pinpoint where gaps in employee engagement or employee productivity may be coming from. From there, you can make an objective assessment on how to meet the interests of both the business and your employees.
In addition, today’s brand of work culture dictates that companies be more inclusive in their hiring policies. This means giving fair and equal opportunities for candidates across gender, age, religious, or political spectrum. In the same manner, you might want to check if your career advancement programs are open to anyone who’s willing and able to step up in the organization, instead of a select few that’s handpicked by managers. The key is to eliminate any subjective bias or preference for a particular group of employees, as this does not represent a trait of a just and fair leader.
As managers, you have the responsibility to be a coach, counselor, and critic all rolled into one. You must find the sweet spot between knowing when to let your team members come up with their own strategies and when to hold their hands and micro-manage. Your employees may feel more comfortable and empowered when you trust them enough to let them work on their own, but at the same time, you should know when to step in using proper intervention methods.
Cultivating a culture of constructive feedback and accountability in everyone can also help you achieve your goals for the team. Show your employees that you value them by acknowledging their efforts and help them realize the potentials that they might not be aware of.
Be helpful and patient with them as they go through the process of learning, re-learning, or unlearning their skills. You might be surprised that you could learn a lot in your employees’ journey, too, which makes it important that you know how to set up a feedback exchange system where everyone—your entry-level employees, your more experienced staff, and top management—is on equal footing.
Last but not least, exceptional leaders aren’t afraid to embrace changes and innovations as they come. Instead of shunning new technologies, you need to keep an open mind about their potential to help your team work faster and smarter. This calls for you to keep yourself informed about technological trends, so you can identify the right tools for your team.
These leadership trends are just the tip of the iceberg. This 2019, you’ll be seeing a more dynamic growth in the way that leaders and business interact with employees, which is both exciting and challenging. Prepare for the times ahead by brushing up on your industry knowledge with the help of this infographic.
AUTHOR BIO:
Jomel Alos is a Consultant at Guthrie-Jensen Consultants, a management training and consultancy firm in the Philippines. He enjoys sharing his knowledge on human resource solutions, as well as helping businesses achieve greater growth, competitiveness, and profitability. When he’s not working, he’s watching TV shows about designing like Tiny House Nation, Forged in Fire, and Ellen’s Design Challenge.
