How to Be a Great Leader
As an executive coach, I find that even my most senior clients are always looking to improve as leaders. That’s because enhancing leadership capabilities brings benefits across the board.
4 minutes of reading
As an executive coach, I find that even my most senior clients are always looking to improve as leaders. That’s because enhancing leadership capabilities brings benefits across the board. Personally, research shows that leading more effectively builds confidence, improves decision-making, enhances communication, and strengthens the ability to inspire others. From a career perspective, strong leadership skills open up opportunities for advancement, increase job satisfaction, and enhance one’s reputation in the industry. For organisations, effective leadership can drive innovation, boost employee engagement and productivity, foster a positive work culture, and lead to improved performance and success for the business – which is always the end goal.
Ways to Become a Great Leader
Here are the ways I work with clients to make them the best leaders they can be.Understand Your Natural Leadership Style
First, work out what your natural leadership style is and focus on that. Research has identified many effective leadership styles. You might have heard of transformational leadership (those visionary, inspiring leaders who motivate people to achieve extraordinary outcomes) or servant leadership (a style that prioritises the needs of the team, fostering collaboration and empathy). Above all, we know that being authentic as a leader – being true to your personality and capabilities – is crucial in building trust and credibility with followers. To practice authentic leadership, be genuine, transparent, and true to your values. Lead with integrity and authenticity, choosing the leadership style that truly fits you, and you will have the impact you want.Key Areas to Focus On
Once you’ve understood who you are as a leader, there are three key areas that every leader needs to ensure they have covered:Tip 1: Communicate Effectively
Almost every issue I see in almost every organisation I work with comes down to poor communication. Recent research emphasizes the importance of clear and concise communication in effective leadership. If you know this is something you find challenging, work at it. Communication is very much a skill that can be developed and is something we work on a lot in coaching.Tip 2: Develop Emotional Intelligence
Leaders with high emotional intelligence are better able to understand and manage their own emotions, as well as those of their team members. Emotional intelligence can be built through increased awareness of your emotions and improving communication with those around you. This is a skill that can be developed with practice and dedication.Tip 3: Foster a Culture of Learning and Development
As someone whose entire business is about development and learning, I can confidently say that research is clear: the best leaders foster a culture of learning and development. This means not just providing training and coaching for your team but taking a coaching approach yourself as a manager and creating a culture of continuous learning instead of fear of mistakes. This will have a huge impact on employee engagement and performance.Conclusion
Becoming a great leader requires dedication, self-awareness, and a commitment to continuous improvement. By embracing
More articles
As a leader, I know my coaching clients often struggle to find balance amidst the
Today, we’re tackling a critical topic for anyone who wants to introduce coaching to their
As an executive and leadership coach, I’m often asked what I actually do. In this