Leadership is not a gift and or hereditary

Anyone can learn to be a great leader with the proper training and motivation.   Whether or not you’re in a leadership position, practicing strong leadership skills can offer a huge payoff.

True leaders do not wait for a promotion to lead.  When you prove that you are someone who merits following, being a promoted will be a result of your leadership skills.

Over the course of my career I have spoken with numerous people with decades of experience in leading teams to success. The following are essential skillsets that said others and myself have found that many great leaders practice:

Lead and Inspire by Example Rather than Dictating

The greatest leaders support their subordinates and or counterparts.  They do not sit behind their desks promulgating orders. Great leaders practice what the Japanese refer to as Gembutsu; they are the first ones on the scene so that they are fully aware of what hurdles and or obstacles their teams may find challenging. By doing so, leaders don’t end up setting unrealistic goals. If you practice what you preach, you’ll create a strong, inspirational perception at work.

Create a Culture of Respect, Not Fear

Numerous studies show that people perform better when they feel respected by their employers. Exceptional leaders succeed by encouraging others rather than instilling fear or domination upon their subordinates.    .

According to one Wharton School of Business survey of over 3,000 professionals across all sectors, “People who worked in a culture where they were free to express affection, tenderness, caring and compassion for one another were more satisfied with their jobs, committed to the organization and accountable for their performance,” according to Sigal Barsade and Olivia O’Neill, the researchers of the study, on Harvard Business Review.

Creativity, collaboration and morale is a lot higher when your team doesn’t dread hearing your feedback.

Maximize Time Efficiently by Avoiding Unproductive Busyness

Great leaders are wary of “unproductive busyness,” according to a 10-year study by Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton.  (HBB, 2002) Shuttling from one meeting to another without actually making any innovative waves.

These researchers studied the habits of managers at big corporations, like Sony, LG Electronics and Lufthansa. “Fully 90 percent of managers squander their time in all sorts of ineffective activities,” the researchers wrote on Harvard Business Review (HBR).  Unfortunately, many managers who achieve phenomenal results, spend much more time than is necessary to achieve their goals.  Implementing good time management practices is essential for great leadership. 

Recognize Top Performers

The best way to reward and keep top performers motivated is to recognize them. Money is great, but, sometimes, more than money, people want to be appreciated for their value and expertise. A word from the boss indicating his or her appreciation and esteem is often more valuable than any amount of money to an employee.   

A great leader provides the right recognition at the right time, giving credit where credit is due. This practice helps leaders build trust between them and their teams. It also helps leaders to develop better insight in what motivates their colleagues and or subordinates.

Additionally, though it might seem counterintuitive, a new challenge is often a great form of recognition because it shows employees that their leader(s) have confidence in their ability to accomplish the goals set before them.

Establish a Clear Vision and then Communicate the Same

A great leader’s vision should be consistent in every goal and achievement they make.

“Great leaders set direction with their senior team or other leaders (tapping into their perspective and position) and then communicate that direction with passion and commitment, helping those responsible for executing understand where they fit, and how they fit,” (Christine Chopyak, The Art of Transforming Business. 2012)

Motive with your Eyes and hear with Respect

Great leaders are present. They give all their team members a hundred percent of their attention so that it feels like that each team member is the only person in the room. Making effective eye contact is one of the strongest tools a leader can use to demonstrate their sincere interest in what a person is conveying to them. 

It’s also important to “demonstrate respect for all other points of view. Respect doesn’t mean agree but rather simply respect other’s right to a different point of view than their own at this moment in time.

Avoid the Micromanagement Trap

One of the biggest downfalls of great leaders is an inability to trust the team to carry out their vision. This is particularly common among perfectionists. The old saying “if you want anything done right, you have to do it yourself” comes to mind.

But this is exactly the kind of mentality that most always limits your team’s success. You can’t do everything and remember, a great leader supports his team members by setting realistic expectations and then standing out of the way so that his or team members can meet the same. 

One of the essential keys to great leadership is realized through delegation. Delegation helps leaders to identify the strengths of their team members, and then capitalize on them. Furthermore, great leaders determine what each team member enjoys doing most. When employees enjoy the tasks leaders set before them, they often put more thought and effort behind the tasks they may be performing. 

Tyg Lucas
Engineering Director for Scandinavian Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals
Conference of Packaging Professionals
Las Vegas, NV. (2006)