Outstanding leaders ask questions to get ideas, set direction, put the right people in the right places, and make sure resources are focused on top priorities - all while pushing people to push their limits to maximize results. And they do it ethically! I know this all sounds like a good challenge, but you are probably already a leader. Time to channel your energy!
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Part One: Reaching the Summit
Step 1. Be forward looking
Ok, you have everything ready. You are part of a group that needs to be guided. However, to become the leader your group needs, you need vision. Become a seer. Be able to understand what needs to happen. Find out what will ignite the spark that will spark your team's creativity. Try to understand how individuals work.
A good leader sees "the next big deal". When the computer was invented, Steve Jobs saw the iPhone. When Justin Timberlake and Usher hit YouTube, they saw Justin Bieber. Once you have identified the next step, you also need to see how it could happen. How can your team maximize its potential? Who does what well? What problems might occur?
Step 2. Be patient
You can't become a leader with a microwave ride. You have to become a slow fire leader. In other words, these things take time. You have to be patient. You have to climb the whole ladder. There are very few contexts that you can walk in and say "I'm here!", And take control. And if you can do it, you have to seriously ask yourself why!
Nobody becomes a good leader if they have not been led. You have to be able to follow someone before you are a good leader - or you won't understand anything about your team. You would never elect a president who has never been a citizen, right? The same is true for the climb to leadership. If you don't know what it means to be part of a team, you will never be able to lead one. So be patient, do your "mess" and your time may come
Step 3. Show strength
If there is another characteristic that the leader must have beyond foresight, it is strength. No leader has ever reached the summit without a backbone, without passion, without having his head held high, without "believing in himself". Show your team that you can face the world head on and your leadership will not be challenged.
There is a difference between strength and arrogance. There is a difference between a leader who knows he is fit to lead people and one who thinks he is "the only one" who can do it. You have to have a strong personality, you have to be confident in your decisions, and you have to believe in yourself, but that doesn't mean you don't recognize your team's strengths (and your "weaknesses")
Step 4. Let's say you have no power
Sounds strange, but it couldn't be more true. The leader who basks in his power, clings to it, will soon have none. Let's say you don't have any: you will be more persuasive (because you have to be), you will be able to relate better to your team (because you are at the same level) and the power will not go to your head (because you have no reason for it). Remember: you only have power because your team gives it to you. He can take it away from you at any time. So who really has the power?
Being a good leader has nothing to do with authority. There is no control and it is definitely not an abuse of power. It's about the success of your team. If you need to take a step back for everyone to be happy, relaxed and reach their potential, then do it. You are a really good leader when your power is "recognized". Not screamed at seven winds and flaunted like a modern Versailles. There simply is
Step 5. Set a team goal
To be a leader, you have to make your team work "for" something. If a team isn't accomplishing anything, it's just a group of people in one place, enjoying each other's company. There has to be a well-defined goal, and everyone has to be a part of it. In leadership, it is you who help define this goal.
Make sure everyone is clear about the goal in question. If someone does not understand, they will try to reach a different one! Each person must be given a task that maximizes their value, making them part of a larger puzzle
Step 6. Take stock
Here is a fun exercise to do: make a list of all the goals you wanted to achieve last year. Then reread it and check the ones "actually" achieved. Show the list to a friend and ask him if he would hire you. If he thinks you are someone who gets what he wants, and gets the job done. What's the verdict?
We often see ourselves worse than we really are. Take a look at the list. Does it accurately reflect how you see yourself? What weaknesses does it bring to light? What strengths? Ask the same friend which rumors correspond to reality according to him
Step 7. Identify a lack of leadership, if needed
If you are part of a team that is working quietly, and suddenly you grab the reins, trying to lead it … well, you will end up crashing. To be a leader, there must be a team that needs to be led. Otherwise you are just a dictator who seeks power without any purpose. So in whatever context you find yourself - a school project, basketball team, or office - try to figure out what the situation is. Nobody comes forward? What's the situation? Is there a vacant seat?
No team works efficiently if there are too many cooks in the kitchen. This proverb exists for a reason! Thankfully, when your team has gone mad and everyone is running around like headless chickens it's hard to ignore it. You will know that something is wrong with leadership when you see such a situation. And you can fill that void
Method 2 of 3: Part Two: Leading Your Team to Success
Step 1. Use chemistry
If Helen Keller was on your team you wouldn't be putting her on the phone calls, right? You wouldn't trust Lenny with teenagers in full hormonal turmoil. You wouldn't give Voldemort the elder wand. People (read: your team) have their strengths (and weaknesses). It is your job, as a leader, to put them in the right place. Where they will be most useful. It is your job to recognize the value of the individual. It is your job to activate the right chemical combinations between people and their efforts.
Since you are the boss, you will probably delegate too. So let Helen read, write and inspire others. Lenny will take care of the rabbits. And He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Appointed will take care of the personnel selection. Let everyone maximize their potential - they will be happier and you will be too
Step 2. Keep expectations in check
If you are running for president of the United States, it is a bad idea to choose as your slogan, EVERYTHING WILL BE PERFECT BY 2016!. It will not be so. You can't lead your team with the expectation that everything will always go smoothly and be fantastic. No. You have to be realistic. Positive, but realistic. Show your team what awaits them. You are the seer, after all.
It is important to manage expectations at both the macro and the micro level. You have to check the general appearance of the group and that of the individuals. Does everyone know what their duties are? How does this fit into the big picture? '
Step 3. Handle the opposition with caution
In any result-oriented team, there is room for people who disagree and there is also room for people who disagree with you. There will be those who believe they should lead the group, there will be those who simply don't like your style, and there will be those who in a nutshell think the team should go in a different direction. It's normal. Your job is to get them back on track.
In most cases, the opponents will be a minority (if not, you will likely be dismissed). The other two groups will be the ones that follow you and the ones that could be on either side. You have to take those who support you and set them on fire with a fire that infects everyone else as well. If you do it right, they'll wonder why they wasted time getting in your way
Step 4. Think outside the box
This goes together with being a seer, but you have to do it constantly. Your vision for the team must change as you make progress - what feels right one day may seem absurd the next. So, as the clock ticks, and your efforts take you further and further, think creatively. What could you do that you haven't tried yet and could make things even better?
Grow the people on your team. This means that those below you may have a lot of good ideas but say nothing or drop them because they think they are out of place. Try to listen to everyone, regardless of their position. They might have that concept that makes the light bulb go on in your head, who knows?
Step 5. Stay ethical and fair
A good leader is someone who is respected, and you cannot be respected if you are not ethical and fair. You may get the impression that your team is not watching you, but if you don't respect your moral principles, they will take note. If you have any favorites, they will take notice. If you take shortcuts, they will take notice (and act accordingly). So, if you want your team to play clean, you have to be the first to do it.
Step 6. Give your team a purpose
When you are worker # 142, it is easy to lose sight of your importance. You may have a group of people who feel they are not important, whether they manifest it or not. When that happens, productivity (and success) is minimized. You can avoid this by giving them a purpose. Let them know what they do is important, why it is, and how it will affect people. Give him attention. Let them know they have your attention. If you care about them, then they will care about you too.
Remember, you are the leader, not the boss. You're not just giving orders. Come on, even a monkey could do it. Your goal is to bring out the best in them, regardless of the circumstance. So be honest with them. If they like you, they'll want to do their job. Otherwise, they will leave at the earliest opportunity
Method 3 of 3: Part Three: Being an Effective Leader
Step 1. Become a role model
To be an effective and fair leader, you cannot live by the mantra, Do as I tell you, not what I do. You must be the example that your team must follow. If you don't, why should they cooperate? Why should they be successful? If your team goes in different directions, you are not much of a leader. So become a role model and show them the way.
Even if you don't think you're a role model, you are. You are in a natural position to be. Some leaders are like friends, others like bosses (and still others like dictators), but they are all role models. Your team looks to you for orientation. Use your powers for good
Step 2. Be fluid and adaptable
Nobody can predict the future. Computers are pretty good at predicting trends, but they can be very wrong. For this, it is of the utmost importance that you are able to adapt to change. Imagine if Apple had stopped after its first computer! If Ford had stopped after the Model T! If Britney Spears was formed at Baby one more time! Society is constantly changing and you (and your team) have to change with it.
This probably makes more sense for a long-term leader, such as the president of a company or the captain of the football team. But even school project leaders need to be receptive to change! If Pedro has a better idea than yours, use it. If Sara doesn't show up at school, scold her for her laziness! Even the smallest obstacles represent an opportunity to demonstrate that change will not take you off the road to becoming fantastic
Step 3. Be a good mentor
After all, people want a leader. They prefer not to make decisions themselves (so as not to be responsible if everything goes wrong) and use other people to light the way. As such, you are in a natural position to be a mentor. Use your powers for good! When someone asks for your advice, help them. After all, a good leader gives birth to other good leaders!
Step 4. Don't give in when under attack
Mike Tyson is said to have stated: Nobody has a plan until they get a punch in the mouth.. Very wise words, Mike. When you get a punch in the mouth (i.e. someone waves the boat, opposes your leadership), what will you do? Will you follow the motion of the ocean? Or will you drown?
The right answer is the first, however. All true leaders face opposition. All. Do you think it was easy for Nelson Mandela? And Mother Teresa? And Morgan Freeman? It has nothing to do with how good you are, but your position. There will always be enemies. All time. This means that you are doing something and that it matters. It is part of the leadership
Step 5. Prepare your team and yourself
A simple example: you need to prepare a speech for a rather large audience. Not only will you have to write the speech, know what tools you will need, and who will be there, but your team (in this case the audience) needs to know the program as well. What will you talk about? What can they find out for themselves? How can you equip them to be useful? When everyone is ready, things go much smoother!
Of course, you can't be prepared for all obstacles. It is inevitable. But you can prepare yourself for an eventful journey, and that counts against the expectations check. If everyone knows it's not going to be easy (but hopefully worth it), you can avoid deep sighs, swinging heads, and yes, even someone giving up
Step 6. Don't get into conflicts
It's just common sense. If Joni and Judy are fighting over the last staple, stay out of it. They're probably fighting for another reason, and that's none of your business. You don't have to manage your team's private lives. If it has nothing to do with work, stay neutral in everyone's interest.
Step 7. Show your appreciation
When your team is doing stellar work, let them know they are doing stellar work. When all the mechanisms of the gear are turning, bask. And let your team do it too. Emphasize their hard work. How do you know? Because you certainly can't have done it all by yourself. As a good leader, you will recognize that it has been a team effort and that everyone is important. Everyone deserves appreciation.
