8 Critical Things Every Great Leader Remembers
It's
hard to remember everything when you're busy. But here are eight things a great
leader never forgets.
If
you are a leader it helps to have a great memory. You have to keep tons of
concepts and data in your head so you can constantly analyze and act on
strategy and operations. Executing big ideas well requires a big brain and
focused recall on the fly. But don't discount the small acts of memory that
every leader should use to daily.
Aside
from facts, figures and policy, great leaders make a priority of
remembering the soft elements that help their team grow and perform at their
best. Great leaders don't save human reflection for special occasions. They
keep these thoughts in mind all the time to keep their teams happy and
productive.
1.
Remember to offer kindness.
Cruel
comments, sarcasm and harsh criticism never make anyone's day better. And being
ignored can come off as the worst sort of mean. Being mindful of others'
feelings is critical for a great leader to build a productive environment. The
team will build a culture that follows the leader's
demeanor. Treated them with care and consideration, even when they screw up.
Then they will remember to do the same.
2.
Remember to offer respect.
People
on the team need to feel that you value their skills and knowledge. If you
treat them like children, they will act like children, or worse. Great
leaders
remember to let their teams know they are valued, because words, tone and
gestures will show it. Everyone from the cleaning person to the top executive
deserves certain basic courtesies, including a cordial greeting, a present
moment of your attention and the acknowledgement of their efforts.
3.
Remember to offer patience.
Great leaders maintain their own sanity
and that of others by managing impatience, especially their own. This is the
era of instant gratification, and most people want things done as quickly as
possible. But an immediate response or solution is not always available.
Recognize that many aspects of a project will take time to develop, or that an
answer may take 24 hours or more to find. Set an agreed upon plan with
reasonable expectations even when pressured. It's ok to stay in touch while
waiting, but avoid pestering others, berating them or getting in the way.
4.
Remember to offer humor.
When
all else fails, we have laughter. Laughing can relieve a lot of tension and do
a great deal to help people who are ready to give up. People
value leaders
who can make the negatives seem less daunting with a joke. Laughter is not a
substitute for persistence and hard work, of course. But the judicious use of
humor can do a lot to put things in perspective. Oh yeah, and lots of humor
makes work more fun as well.
5.
Remember to offer truth.
No
one is served by quiet politeness, or outright lies. It's hard to hear the
truth sometimes especially when you are emotionally invested in a project that
is off track. But great leaders know how to deliver truth in a straightforward
way that helps people move forward. You can be
frank
without being mean, petty or harsh. And the detriments of avoidable failure due
to silence or candy coating far outweigh the harshness and pain of learning the
truth.
6.
Remember to offer encouragement.
Nothing
saps energy like the feeling of being lost or out of options. When people are
running out of energy or feeling down, great leaders take notice and remember
how to get people back on track. You can describe what you like/admire about
them. Remind them of the strengths and skills they can bring to the table. If cheerleading isn't enough, roll up your
sleeves and get into problem solving with them.
7.
Remember to offer gratitude.
People
feed on acknowledgement. Just saying "thank you" when
someone holds the door can affirm that positive behavior. And when you hold the
door yourself...it tells the other person that you value them and want to meet
their needs. Great leaders remember to be grateful for the efforts others make
on their behalf. Be watching for opportunities to do small, thoughtful things
for others that demonstrate how much you appreciate their efforts.
8.
Remember to offer hope.
When
times seem harsh and bleak, great leaders remember that they are great leaders
and it is their responsibility to offer the path forward. During the worst times,
people want to believe that life will get better, that everything will
improve, and that growth/progress/success is in their grasp. Let people
know that you believe in them, that your expectations are high and that they should keep trying.
BY Kevin Daum
http://www.inc.com/kevin-daum/8-critical-things-every-great-leader-remembers.html?cid=em01014week24a
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