Tag Archives: self-improvement

Everyday Habits That Make You a Better Leader

habits_better_leader_webBecoming a great leader doesn’t take a lifetime of work. Rather, there are everyday habits you can start right now that will help you learn to successfully lead others. From communicating effectively to being courageous in the face of adversity, these tips can help you mold yourself into the leader you want to be today.

Learn to set clear expectations.
It’s fair to say that no one can read minds. So, it’s especially important to make sure you are setting clear expectations before starting a project or delegating an assignment. If you’re leading people on a project, ensure you’re being precise, both verbally and in writing, about what is expected and when you expect the work to be completed. If you’re being assigned a task, make sure you ask questions that clearly establish the expectations of your job before you start. By clarifying expectations, you decrease the opportunity for problems to arise and make it easier to deal with them when they do.

Focus on people.
If you’re a supervisor or a leader of others, it’s important to visit with your teammates on a frequent basis. Investing time in your co-workers helps grow your team and build trust, accountability, and understanding. And strengthening your relationships with those you lead helps you give important feedback during annual reviews. If you aren’t in a leadership position yet, the same rules apply. Getting to know your co-workers and being someone people trust is a great way to help you move up the ladder and get noticed.

Get involved.
One of the easiest ways to gain experience, network, and build your resume is through volunteering. When you give your time to help with community service or an organization that’s important to you, you’ll gain valuable relationships, enjoy the feeling of giving back, and gain skills you may not have otherwise. You may also learn how to lead others, which can be a valuable tool back at the office.

Be brave.
When faced with difficult decisions, leaders have to be brave. In fact, employees will often look to how a leader behaves during turbulent times before deciding how to react themselves. When you’re faced with adversity in the workplace or at home, take a deep breath and consider your options before moving forward. Remember to assess the outcomes of your decisions to learn from your mistakes and celebrate your accomplishments.

Know yourself.
According to Forbes, 90% of top performing leaders possess an abundance of self-awareness. Having a strong sense of self-awareness means you have a clear image of yourself, which includes your leadership style, strengths, weaknesses, and skills. You know where you can improve, and you know where you shine. Once you develop stronger self-awareness, you can craft a plan for improving areas that need work.

Hold yourself accountable.
When things go wrong, it’s easy to blame someone else. But, great leaders know when they’re at fault. Instead of shifting the blame to someone else, own up to your mistakes and any role you had in the problem. Don’t be afraid of what may happen when you’re honest, and never point the finger at those who are not at fault. Furthermore, be there to back up those who need you when things go wrong.

Love what you do.
When you’re passionate about something, it shows. And often, it’s contagious. Take time to be thankful for your job and gain enthusiasm for what you do so others can pick up on your energy. Strive to share the passion you have for your work with others before boredom and apathy take over your team.

How do you prepare yourself to be a successful leader? Share your tips in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to by Express Employment Professionals.

3 Must Master Communication Skills

communication_skillsTrue or false? Communication for your job ends when the clock strikes 5 p.m. and you sprint out the door to head home.

False. Even though you may have set great boundaries for your work/life balance, the innovation of technology has made us virtually on call 24/7.  This means you are likely to check your email before bed or answer that text message at home from your boss before going to your son’s baseball game.

Communication is one of the most important soft skills companies look for when they are hiring. It’s so important that according to a survey done on behalf of RingCentral, 97% of people believe communication impacts tasks daily. A whopping 85% rely on more than one device for a majority of work, so not only do you have to worry about in-person communication; you also have the added stress of misinterpreted electronic communication.

The good news is that we’ve honed in on three important communications skills for success in the workplace and how to master them:

Listening
One of the most important communication skills is listening. It helps to be well spoken, but you also need to pay attention to what your colleague or boss is trying to convey. To make sure you are clear on the point of the conversation, be an active listener.

To show that you are listening, look at the speaker directly and pay attention to their body language. Engage in the conversation by nodding occasionally and smiling. Paraphrase what the person is saying by using phrases such as, “What I’m hearing is” and “Sounds like you are saying.”

And remember, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.

Clarity
When speaking or emailing your boss, colleagues, or clients, be direct. If you beat around the bush with your point, you’re likely to confuse others. This applies to meetings, too. Public speaking can be intimidating. It’s a good idea to write down exactly what you want to say in bullet-point form so your notes are easily readable and you can refer to them if needed.

Follow the same process when giving instructions for tasks that need to be carried out, and encourage questions for clarity.

Empathy
Disagreeing with someone can be one of the most effective ways to shut down communication. But instead of seething over why your colleague can’t see your point of view, try putting yourself in their shoes.

The workplace is about teamwork, so it’s important to be open to others’ thoughts and ideas, possibly encouraging the same consideration for your differing opinion, if and when the time arises.

Other Important Communication Skills
While listening, clarity, and empathy are three vital communication skills, there are a few more skills that just may push your career to the top and set you apart from your colleagues when it’s time for that promotion.

Digital Etiquette
Communication through emails and text messages is rife for misinterpretation. Innocent words can suddenly take on a harsh tone without the context of body language and voice cues.

To help avoid communication mishaps, read your emails and text messages a few times to make sure the tone is professional and there are no spelling or grammar errors. Never respond to electronic communication when you are upset. It can come across as unprofessional and come back to haunt you.

If your message is time sensitive, set up a follow-up meeting to ensure the person received your message as it was intended.

Self-Improvement
Many people aren’t naturally gifted speakers, so it takes practice to improve both written and verbal communication in the workplace. Make sure to practice listening, clarity, empathy, and digital etiquette and you’ll soon become a much more valuable team member.

Do you have other suggestions for must master communication skills? Share them with us in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you  by Express Employment Professionals.