Every one of us wants to be a better leader in some aspect of our lives. Maybe you want to be a better leader as a parent. Or we want to be a better leader in our community. Or we want to be a better leader in our corporate organization. Or you might even aim to become a speaker on leadership one day.
There are plenty of resources out there to make you into a good leader. But there are certain qualities that you should possess if you hope to be someone that people will follow and look to for guidance. Below, we’ve collected some of the top ways you can become a better leader in 2017.
1. Use Your Actions to Be a Positive Role Model
As a leader, your actions are going to be copied by those around you. It’s a fact of life that we like to act as those who we aspire to do. That’s why you should start using your actions as a way to inspire those around you to be better.
Your actions should always reflect what you want to see in your team members. If you want them to be collaborative, be sure to collaborate with them and surround yourself with positive quotes. If you want them to be passionate about their work, show them why you’re passionate.
2. Be an Effective Communicator with Those Around You
Communication is probably the most important part of being a leader. Without being able to properly communicate your ideas, your team will be confused and won’t understand what you’re wanting them to do. Plus, effective communication is one of the first steps to building up trust in your team. Without properly communicating with your team members, you won’t be able to build that trust and become a successful team.
3. Find A Mentor Who Can Build You Up
Mentors should be mandatory for every leader out there. Mentors are people who have been in your shoes before and can shed some light on the best steps you should take towards success. Without mentors, many famous leaders we think of would not be where they are today.
One of the best ways to do this is go through your LinkedIn contacts or other contact lists to search for people who could potentially act as your mentor.
4. Be Emotionally Aware of Others
Emotional awareness is a key part of being a leader. Without being able to put yourself in the shoes of your teammates, you won’t be able to understand exactly where they’re coming from.
Your team members expect you to care about their needs and desires just as much, if not more, than what tasks you want them to get done. Continuously ask them how they are feeling, what they want more of, and what could be improved in the team.
5. Creativity Is Key in Your Team
The key to being a successful leader for your team is promoting creative thinking in all of your team members. If you want your team to make some big leaps, they’ve got to think out of the box to find solutions to complex problems.
And that’s your job to promote that in the team through brainstorming activities, special one-on-ones, and other activities.
6. Find the Passion in Your Work
One of the absolute best ways to be the leader your team needs is by finding the passion in your work and showing them that you’re passionate about the job you’re doing. Passion is known to be contagious and if you have passion for your work, your team members are going to follow suit.
Nobody ever said that being a leader is an easy job. It takes a lot of work, introspection, and teamwork to be able to be the leader that people want to follow. But there have been many leaders to come before you and there’s no reason that you can’t be one of the best leaders the world has ever seen!
