As a leadership coach and HR professional, perhaps one of the most valuable aspects of my work, on a personal level, has been the wide variety of industries that I have gained exposure to. In this line of work, no two days are the same. In fact, I have been able to meet leaders from all walks of life by working across the private and public sectors, with start-ups, established family-owned businesses as well as multi-nationals.
So, what has working with so many different leaders taught me? Below are the top 10 pieces of wisdom that I’ve learned from the most inspirational leaders I have met, condensed into 10 lessons that you can apply to your own life.
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Lesson #1: Good leadership builds a shared vision
One of the most distinguishing features that leaders share is their ability to build and communicate a compelling vision and sense of purpose. Whether this vision is for their department or for the company as a whole, they are able to inspire others to willingly join their cause and work towards reaching their shared goals.
Lesson #2: Never lose sight of the bigger picture
Strong leaders never lose sight of the bigger picture. Whether they are the head of a bank or an NGO, these leaders feel responsible for the employment of others and/ or the investment others placed in their organisation, and their work reflects this. They are able to zone in on the nitty gritty details but then easily switch to a birds-eye view on long-term impact of decisions, while keeping an eye on competition and macro-economic conditions.
Lesson #3: Develop a Growth Mindset
All great leaders have a ‘growth mindset’, which means that they remain active learners, welcome feedback from others and understand that they can only scale their business if they scale their leadership.
Lesson #4: Don’t be scared of change
Good leaders are able to remain calm in difficult situations and are not scared of changes and setbacks. Instead, they stay positive and can quickly bounce back to find new opportunities even if the wind has changed direction. This attitude gives courage and hope to those around them.
Lesson #5: Don’t compromise on values
Leaders can foster and encourage a high-performance culture, and this means that they don’t compromise on values or standards of behaviour. They understand that the poor behaviour or attitude which they tolerate quickly demotivates and disengages the high-performing and well-intentioned employees, so they remain consistent with the values and culture they wish to foster. The ends don’t justify the means.
Lesson #6: See failure as a positive
Developing a culture where it’s okay to fail is important because this is the only way that those around them will be ready to take a risk and innovate. Good leaders do not go on a witch hunt for those who were responsible for an error. Instead, they encourage a spirit of inquiry to understand why something failed, own up to it, learn from it and try again.
Lesson #7: Surround yourself with the right people
Leaders understand the importance of their circles. They surround themselves with people who are intellectually honest and loyal to the business as opposed to loyal to them personally. This means that they will hire and promote those who are ready to give an unpopular opinion if it’s in the interest of the business, rather than those who will tell the leader what he or she wants to hear.
Lesson #8: Value employee wellbeing
A pivotal aspect of good leadership is understanding that employees have lives beyond their role at work. They are able to put themselves in their employees’ shoes and understand that compassion is complementary to strong leadership. These leaders are advocates of employee wellbeing and walk the talk by offering measures and establishing norms in the organisation where people feel they can do their best work without feeling like they need to ‘hide’ the life they have outside the workplace.
Lesson #9: Don’t be scared to have the hard conversations
Inspirational leaders are authentic and not scared to have hard conversations. It’s important for leaders to share a degree of vulnerability, such as owning up to errors of judgment from their end, and to offer feedback or have a difficult conversation candidly and empathically. They don’t beat around the bush, but they also remember they are talking to a human being who may need time to digest new insight. At the same time, they are able to express gratitude and appreciation towards their team.
Lesson #10: Mentor, share knowledge and break bread!
Finally, employees are greatly motivated by leaders that recognise the value of mentoring, sharing knowledge and breaking bread with their team. These leaders can be equally comfortable in the boardroom as they are in the office kitchen. They share stories, show others who they are behind their role and, after a long day, they can still sit down next to team members and discuss highlights of the day, and listen to ideas and thoughts from employees junior to the organisation. They are one with the team and show this through their actions not just their words.
These 10 valuable insights gained from working closely with leaders across different industries can be adapted to any organisation. Whether you’re an individual seeking to improve your leadership skills, or you’re an employee looking to progress further in your career – why not try implementing them into your own life?
We’d love to hear what you think. Do you have any other leadership lessons to add to the list, or have you put any of these tips into practice? Let us know by getting in touch with us at info@thechangeagent.eu!
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