You are already great at your job, so now you need to learn how to lead others to greatness. A team may only be as strong as its weakest link, but a confident leader will consistently unite a team and increase effectiveness. So take this opportunity to step up, and be the one to lead your team to the top.
It’s not enough to set standards and guidelines to help your team succeed. Be a positive role model and pave the pathway to professional success. Your team will follow in your footsteps. Also, be sure to give credit where credit is due. Apologize when you make a mistake. Most importantly, show you are not above depending on others and your team will rally behind you.
“Leadership isn’t just about being at the top of the pack,” said Stephanie Bruha, Operations Manager at Kavaliro. “You may not feel like an ‘expert’, but everyone has something they can learn from your years of experience.”
2. Keep connected.
Communication is key. As a leader, it is your job to maintain effective communication practices in the office. Make sure your employees know your door is always open, and you will work to resolve any problems they have. Make sure everyone is on the same page so you can work towards your goals as a unit.
3. Be both a mentor and a mentee.
There’s always more to learn, so find a colleague you admire and establish a connection. Once you’ve built a positive working relationship, this person will be someone you can go to for guidance as you move forward in your career. At the same time, share the wealth of knowledge you’ve accumulated. Don’t be afraid to share advice and help others grow.
“It is important to set up something informal – even if you just have lunch with a mentee every month to talk about mistakes, solutions and even small victories each of you have experienced,” said Bruha. “Your mentee will appreciate your time, and you will gain a trusted ally in your profession. You never know what the future holds; the person you start a mentor relationship with could end up being the person who hires you for your next job!”
4. Be compassionate and inspire creativity.
Be sensitive to the feelings of others. Strive to be consistently respectful of others and their ideas. By creating a strong relationship with each individual on your team, you know they will support you and your decisions. Provide your team with opportunities to present new ideas. Help them build on their ideas by providing appropriate, constructive feedback. Recognize effort as individuals work to improve productivity and effectiveness.
5. Get to know your team.
What was their career path like before they worked with you? What do they like to do in their free time? Getting to know your team members on more personal level will show them that you care about them as individuals, fostering camaraderie and commitment to the company.