How to ensure effective leadership

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IT is not easy to be a leader, especially an effective leader. Good leadership skills are not something that can be picked up overnight. While some individuals are natural leaders, possessing great charisma and skills, most of the time individuals have to learn and master leadership skills through various means over the years.

Here are some points that will help individuals to enhance their effectiveness in leadership.

 

Be accountable

Successful leaders do not only assess and review the performance of others but are equally critical about their own performance. If they are too busy monitoring others without bothering to evaluate their own performance, they may be the last to know when they have committed mistakes.

Leaders of organisations should form an executive team to give the relevant feedback and help them to make strategic plans or good decisions. Leaders should be open to asking the team for feedback on their performance and the decisions made. Good leaders are able to take in suggestions and unfavourable feedback. Only by overcoming weaknesses can leaders grow and excel.

 

Involve subordinates in setting objectives

It is important to involve others, especially subordinates, in setting company objectives. While they may have the big picture in mind, leaders have to ensure that employees share the same vision and contribute their ideas in setting the objectives that will make the big picture a reality.

Many projects do not reach the desired outcomes because the employees are not able to see the ultimate goals. Employees just bury their heads in carrying out their work and are not inspired to contribute their best.

If employees are involved in setting the objectives, they would know what is expected of them and how their performance will affect the outcome. Since they are the ones setting the objectives, they will be more committed to delivering them.

 

Earn and extend trust

Subordinates must be able to rely on leaders. Leaders who are not trustworthy will find that what they say is not
taken in positively by employees. Employees will probably feel insecure and unhappy under such leadership.

Leaders also have to learn to trust their subordinates. If employees feel that their leaders do not trust them and are hanging on to every single important or confidential thing, then they will not be able to grow or hold greater responsibility in the company.

Start by assigning tasks that are important but not so crucial to the employees. Assess their performance and slowly release more significant and confidential work to them. This will build up their loyalty towards the company and the company will be strengthened with more trustworthy helpers.

 

Clear and constant communication

Leaders must communicate goals and principles to the employees in a clear manner. In all ways, leaders should live and act by the goals and principles that have been set. Leaders should constantly share their vision with employees so that they are clear about it.

 

Empower employees

Employees should be given authority so that they are empowered. However, leaders must hold the employees accountable once they are empowered. They have to know who and what are they accountable to.

Giving authority to employees without accountability is undesirable as some may abuse their authority while others may simply ignore the extra responsibility. Once the employees are able to exercise their authority with responsibility, they will become effective leaders and the organisation will greatly benefit.

Priscilla Hiu is a career guidance consultant of Gracia Management and a certified behavioural consultant of DISC Personality Profiling System, Institution of Motivation Living, USA and Extended DISC Personality Profiling System, Extended DISC Northgate.