If you have ever been in a leadership position, you may have already realized that you are held to a higher standard...
You are expected to be more.
- More authentic, real.
- More compassionate, empathetic.
- More ethical, morally inclined etc.
There is no such thing as a perfect leader…
Taking on a leadership role is a huge responsibility and the scrutiny of your daily actions is intense. Is it fair? May be NO. But it’s the price of leadership, responsibility of leadership. However, if you want to lead well, set a thriving, healthy culture for your business unit, learning to be a positive role model is essential.
Inspiration…
At the core of every successful team is a leader who knows how to best communicate with their team. Effective leaders will hold open talk with their team, listen, and continue to guide in a clear and effective way.
Follow your footsteps…
You are being watched; your team is watching you act with your peers; handle stress; tackle difficult situations. In short, they see you at your best as well as worst in the office. How you conduct yourself is just as important as what you communicate. Team involvement, constant advise and solution are the ways an inspiring leader performs.
Ways to navigate leadership screw-ups…
Leaders or no leaders, we are all humans, and human sometimes can make mistakes. Here’s few tips for successful navigation out of your leadership mishaps as it relates to the people equation – interpersonal relationships.
- Accept mistake and apologies
You are not perfect and you should celebrate that. As you have made mistakes and you did learn from them. Sharing these stories with your team makes you vulnerable but also relatable.
- Ensure proportionate goof-ups
You cannot screw-up all the time, every time. If you do, you may lose your credibility as a leader. People will doubt your sincerity and find it hard to believe your words.
There are no specific metrics, no magic formula to ensure effectiveness with your team. However, there are definitely correct ways to build a positive, healthy culture with your team…
Making mistakes is not the problem but glossing over them is. The best way to go about achieving the ideal state is to own up to your mistakes and live, follow, and demonstrate your unique values. So, believe that you can do this and successfully lead your team.
You won’t be perfect as nobody is, but with attention and inclination to understanding you can reform your alignment and effectively set a positive example for your team. Inspiration doesn’t have to be a big, grand gesture but focus on small, meaningful things will do the work.
So, what kind of leader are you?