Entrepreneurs wear multiple hats and have different responsibilities to fulfill. From operations to marketing to inventory and employee engagement, they are burdened with vast responsibilities. As the business progresses and grows, the responsibilities will also increase. If you were a solopreneur earlier and are looking to build a team, you would face a new set of challenges. An entrepreneur’s life can be overwhelming as they are always multitasking. Once you grow your team, you need to acquire leadership skills. It is one of the critical skills that can define the success of your business. Being a good leader will help create a culture where people feel valued and satisfied. We have listed ten ways you can become a better and more well-rounded leader.
Open Communication with Employees
Communication is a key that can help overcome different hurdles and challenges. When you have a team, you must look after their needs and requirements. Talk to them and understand their perspectives. Employees are the most significant assets of the organization. It is necessary to cater to them and communicate with them openly. Make a space for them where they can share their opinions and feedback without fearing judgment. Be a great listener and improve your team’s morale by communicating with them.
Encourage Personal and Professional Growth
Be the biggest cheerleader for your team members and support them in every possible manner. While the leaders with conventional approaches majorly focus on the revenue generation of the business, it has become necessary to change that approach and look after the requirements of the employees. You will certainly have great results when your team is happy and satisfied. Provide them an opportunity to enhance their skills and improve their knowledge. Look after their emotional needs and ask them if they are facing any challenges. You should incorporate activities that promote the employees’ physical health and mental well-being.
Keep a Positive Attitude
While looking after different functions, it is easy to lose your temper. Many leaders even start talking rudely to their employees, which impacts the company culture. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain a positive attitude and stay calm. No matter how rough the situation gets, one should maintain a positive attitude. A positive environment will help create a better and more engaged workforce.
Moreover, a good leader will focus on finding solutions rather than emphasizing the problems. How you handle a negative situation defines a lot about a leader. You should practice meditation or get involved in stress-management-related activities to deal with negative situations.
Set Clear Goals and Expectations
It is periodically required to revisit goals and expectations for your business. Be clear and inform the employees about your goals and expectations from them. However, you should ensure that the employees are part of the decision. Acknowledge their opinions and let them communicate their ideas and opinions. Set goals according to the strengths and weaknesses of the employee. Avoid overstressing them by setting unrealistic goals and expectations. Modify and revisit the goals every day or week, as required. Some employees often feel hesitant and do not open up easily. Therefore, communicating openly about the goals and expectations is required.
Share Valuable Feedback
Keeping track of the performance of employees is vital to find out where they are heading. Share valuable and honest feedback on the performance of your employees. Tell them where they lack and how they can improve. You should even help them by sharing references and knowledge. Celebrate their wins and accomplishments. Thank them for their hard work and contribution. Say encouraging words that help them do better in life.
Be Open to New Ideas
Good leaders allow others to speak and respect their ideas. Encourage team members to participate and share their ideas. Create a channel where everybody can speak and does not feel bad about sharing their concepts. You should let them talk even if you are not satisfied with their ideas. Welcome a new perspective and embrace their helpful thoughts. You should encourage them to look for different, unique, and innovative ways to solve the same problems.
Ask for Feedback
At times, the gap between the leader and employees may widen for various reasons, and it may lead to issues. Proper assessment of leadership may not be possible, but you can consider asking your fellows and experts to share their feedback on your leadership. The gaps may arise because of poor leadership and impact the business operations. You must also consider taking leadership coaching to understand different styles and eliminate the gap. Coaching will allow you to strengthen your key areas and help you make real-time connections.
Develop relationships with your team members
You cannot lead a team if there is no trust or sense of understanding. To achieve this, leaders need to connect with the team members. It is necessary to foster relationships with team members and focus on understanding them. Analyze their strengths, weaknesses, aspirations, personal goals, hobbies, and preferences. All these factors will help in setting the foundations for your business.
Stop Giving Orders
Every individual has a different set of strengths and weaknesses. Nobody can be an expert in every field. It is necessary to keep this in mind and teach the employees before assigning new tasks. Avoid being authoritative and giving orders. Instead, speak to them politely and understand their concerns. Controlling and micromanaging will get you nowhere. It would only spoil things and may impact engagement. Bossy culture will also make the employees feel bad, and their productivity may be hampered. Therefore, you must be polite and take a sensitive approach.
Respect Everyone’s Time
Avoid calling your employees after work hours or stretching the meetings without notice. Every individual has a personal life, and you should help your employees achieve a healthy work-life balance. Do not burden them with a workload they cannot handle. Assign tasks per each individual’s capabilities and give them time to understand. Moreover, you should allow them to work at their convenience. If they are comfortable with remote working, consider allowing them to work from home. It will increase their productivity and will help them get the desired results. Respect their time and achieve your goals in the best way possible.
These are ten effective strategies that can help you become a better leader. Focus on how your employees perceive you and keep learning from your mistakes. Track your own leadership skills and learn different ways to improve. Take a course or a class to understand better tactics and handle situations that typically arise while leading a business or an organization.
