Transform Ordinary Employees Into Extraordinary High Achievers
SQI Security Entrepreneur Series 63
Unlocking The Potential Of Your Team
Introduction:
Most of us will never have seen ourselves as being leaders. For the majority of us, the thought of taking charge of an office will not so long ago have seemed completely absurd. That’s a job for high fliers, for people-people… for born leaders! But despite any initial apprehension, leadership roles are something that many of us will have thrust upon us against any protestations.
In the vast majority of industries, progress and a hike in salary means taking on
more responsibility.
And that responsibility will very often take the form of some kind of leadership role. You can only progress so far before you start having staff under you and the further you then climb the ladder, the more people will start looking to you for direction and
the more people you’ll be responsible for.
That then leaves two choices: shy away from the pressure and the responsibility and live on the modest salary that comes from that, or learn to suck it up and take charge. And guess what? When you do accept that mantle and become the leader that you can be, you’ll find that it’s one of the best experiences imaginable for your personal growth and development.
You’ll become more confident, more able and more authoritative and it can completely transform the way you see yourself. So now the big question: can you learn leadership? Are some people simply destined to be good leaders while others will forever be disrespected and awkward in the
role? Well, while some people are ‘born with it’ (as Maybeline would have us believe), it certainly is possible to learn the skills needed for leadership if you don’t already have them.
And as it happens, that’s exactly what this book is about to do for you! So read on and prepare to learn the ins and outs of leadership and what it takes to inspire a team and get the very most out of them.
THE 10 MOST POWERFUL TIPS FOR LEADERS
So with all that said and done, there is an awful lot to take on board here. Hopefully you have a much better idea now of what really makes a great leader and how you can win the respect of your team and steer them to victory almost without trying. But still, putting all this into action can be challenging and that’s why it’s useful to break this down further and to recap on some of the most potent tips we covered throughout the book. So here they are…
1. Have a Vision
You Believe In This is by far the single most important point if you want to make sure your team respects you and that you are making the right decisions for your organization.
2. Focus on Your Mission Statement
As a leader, you need to see the bigger picture and that means focusing on how to deliver results and how to grow the business.
3. Build Resilience and Plan forContingencies Make sure that your business is able to handle crises and that you know what you’ll do in any of the worst case scenarios.
4. Hire the Right Team
Your team should be diverse in their skills and their abilities but they should be united by the common goal that you all share and the common vision.
5. Give Your Team Autonomy and Credit
This is the best way to make work intrinsically motivating for your team and to ensure they work hard and passionately.
6. Stay Calm, Be Respected
This will keep your team calm and it will make you seem more confident. This is most important when you are challenged by dissidents and when you are going through tough times.
By showing your passion, doing what’s best for the team and being friendly but distant, you can endeavor to be respected. This is better than being liked or feared.
7. Be One Step Ahead
Use financial modeling and other techniques to stay one step ahead.
8. Take Responsibility
If things go wrong, you must always take responsibility. This gives your team confidence and assurance but also wins their respect.
9. Be Knowledgeable
You won’t be the best at anything and you need to know how to delegate. BUT you should also make it your business to understand the role of each team member so that you can oversea the course of your ship.
10. Take Risks
It is important to take risks and be courageous as a leader.This is again what will allow you to grow and what will make your team achieve above the rest.
