Think about some of the greatest leaders in your life. What do they have in common? 

It may not be readily apparent. Some leaders are seemingly effortless in their leadership prowess. You may not be able to put a finger on exactly why they are so effective, so influential. They may not even fully understand. 

Impactful? Leadership can be rooted in an innate “nature” foundation (as opposed to “nurture”). Yet, that isn’t the only path to success. There are distinct leadership skills that can be learned and cultivated. 

1) Believe in Yourself

Perhaps the first step in becoming a better leader is recognizing you have that potential within you to improve.

Actually, it starts there. With all of it. There was a reason you rose to the position you’re currently in. You’re not just “getting by.” You possess the talent, knowledge, and skill set to heighten your leadership capacity. You just have to believe that’s possible—and then do the work.

2) Identify Your Greatest Strengths – and Your Biggest Weaknesses

You may remember earlier days in your career when you were being interviewed for a position. It’s likely the hiring entity asked for your greatest strengths, as well as your biggest weaknesses. You might have been hesitant to share your actual weaknesses—for fear of revealing to the interviewer something that would prevent you from getting hired.

That’s no way to grow. There is tremendous opportunity in identifying what could be holding you back from progressing as an effective leader. Just because you have weaknesses does not mean you are “weak.” Everyone can work to overcome shortcomings. The first step is admitting something isn’t your strong point. 

Alternatively, identifying your greatest strengths opens up an entire landscape of possibilities for becoming a better leader. While addressing your weaknesses, lean into your strengths. For example, are you:

  • A really good listener?
  • Effective at conflict resolution?
  • Great in social situations?
  • A master at guiding teamwork?
  • Vocal when people are marginalized?
  • Confident in unknown situations?

Whatever makes you stand out among your cohorts can be optimized towards even better leadership effectiveness. One word of caution: there’s a temptation to feel “comfortable” about your strengths. Yet, there is always room for improvement.

3) Connect with Other Influential Players

Oftentimes, the business environment can seem highly competitive. While a competitive spirit often breeds productivity, there is potential for more. Untapped collaboration is mutually beneficial. 

Are there other leaders within your organization who thrive? Connect with them and be open to learning from them. This opportunity could exist within your department, or inter-departmentally. 

And, don’t be afraid to form relationships with more senior people—that is, if you are not the most senior in your organization. They have risen to their position based on their leadership abilities (hopefully). You might even consider asking for advice from a mentorship perspective. You can, in turn, serve in that capacity to your own team members. 

4) Open Yourself Up to New Ideas

“Always be curious” is a good mantra to live by in any role, especially a leadership role. Of course, there will always be standards to follow. But there is no harm in exploring new avenues from which to approach business operations. 

For example, there’s a teaching modality called the Flipped Classroom Method (FCM) that leaders may benefit from. FCM is often referred to as “active learning.”

Per Harvard University, “A flipped classroom is structured around the idea that lecture or direct instruction is not the best use of class time. Instead students encounter information before class, freeing class time for activities that involve higher order thinking.” Benefits for students include flexibility, personal responsibility, deeper learning and retention, closer connection to instructors, and increased collaboration between students.

Those same benefits could be realized among team members. In no way does this approach mean you’re giving up control. But you may find it generates more proactive, actionable inputs from your team.

5) Remember There’s No ‘I’ in TEAM

Sometimes, being a better leader isn’t about you. Yes, as a leader, you do have to be that guiding light. But an underestimated quality of good leadership is recognizing your team. 

One of the primary reasons people leave their job is because they don’t feel “appreciated.” This is far more encompassing than an annual or bi-annual performance review. Are there ways you can recognize your staff on an ongoing basis? It may be something as simple as giving a shout-out to someone who really delivered on a project. You don’t have to dip into your budget to make someone feel special. Words have immense power.

6) Optimize Ways to Address Conflict

As a leader, you know there will always be elements of conflict among your team members, conflict that exists inter-departmentally, and conflict between you and a colleague (senior, equal, or staff). If conflict is left unaddressed, it will fester. 

Sometimes, the presence of conflict itself begets even more conflict. It can be difficult to navigate conversations about conflict, but an effective approach is to practice active listening. You are not there to scold anyone. Take the time to uncover exactly why the conflict has arisen. Everyone wants to be heard, especially when they feel they may not be understood in their intentions. 

If you can find common ground, via open and honest communication, you will be much better equipped to resolve the conflict and avoid adding more angst to the situation.

7) Speaking of Communication…

One of the strategies we take to help individuals become better leaders involves finding effective ways to communicate. That’s not always easy, particularly when leaders and their team members possess different styles of communication. Oftentimes, what is a genuine statement from one person can come across as a threat to another.

But, when leaders pay close attention to their words, tone, and intent, it has a monumental effect on creating workplaces where people want to show up, take risks, and be their best selves. Here’s just one example from the 15 powerful phrases we’ve compiled to up-level your leadership presence:

  • What to say: I notice that I’m feeling a bit defensive, yet I’m curious about your experience.
  • What it says: I’m open to the fact that people experience things in different ways.
  • When to say it: When someone is critical of something from which you received value.

Exploring a different approach like this can be highly effective in upping your leadership effectiveness. Again, everyone wants to know they have a voice. Giving people that opportunity shows you truly care about the team you lead. (P.S. – You can find the other 14 phrases in this downloadable PDF.)

Better Leadership is Never One and Done

Everyone has the capacity to become a better and more effective leader. Even if you have already implemented some (or all) of these into your leadership toolkit, it never hurts to give an honest assessment about how they are working for you and your leadership environment.

Of course, we’re always here to help if you’d like some guidance. Schedule a call with one of our executive coaching professionals if you’d like a free consultation.