I think one of the biggest learning experiences I had as a leader was when I was promoted to manager says, Fred Auzenne. I was given a team of people to lead and manage, and it was a completely new experience for me. I didn’t have any previous experience in managing people, so I had to learn on the job. I made a lot of mistakes early on, but I learnt from them and eventually became a successful manager.
If you’re someone who is gearing up to take on greater responsibilities in your work or personal life, here are some of the lessons that I learned:
1. Be patient and don’t try to do everything yourself –
When you’re promoted to a leadership position, it can be tempting to try and do everything yourself. But this is a recipe for disaster. You can’t possibly do everything yourself, so you need to be patient and delegate tasks to your team. This will help you to manage your time better and ensure that all tasks are completed efficiently.
2. Encourage your team to give feedback –
One of the best ways to improve your leadership skills is to encourage your team to give feedback. This will help you to identify any areas where you need to improve, and it will also show your team that you value their opinion.
3. Be open to change –
The world is constantly changing, and as a leader, it’s important that you’re open to change. If you’re not willing to change, then you might fall behind and struggle to keep up with your team says Fred Auzenne.
4. Manage your emotions –
Many leaders struggle in this area, but it’s important that you manage your emotions when you’re in charge of a team. If you become easily agitated or angry, then it can cause problems for both yourself and your team members. Try to remain calm under pressure and focus on the issue at hand rather than allowing petty disputes to escalate into an argument.
5. Communicate clearly –
As a leader, one of your main responsibilities is communication. You need to be clear when communicating with others, so make sure that you speak slowly and use simple words when speaking with people who might not have a high level of education. This will help to ensure that everyone understands what you’re saying explains Fred Auzenne.
6. Be positive –
It’s important to be positive when leading a team. If you’re constantly negative, then it will cause your team to lose morale and they might start to resent you. Try to remain upbeat and positive, even when things are going wrong. This will help to keep your team motivated and focused on the task at hand.
7. Be respectful –
One of the most important things for a leader is to be respectful towards others. This includes subordinates, peers, and superiors. Showing respect towards others will help to build trust and collaborative relationships.
8. Be humble –
As a leader, it’s important to be humble. No one likes a leader who thinks they’re better than everyone else. If you show humility, then you’ll gain respect from your team and peers.
9. Be an effective communicator –
Leaders must be proficient in the skill of communication. This includes speaking confidently in front of people, writing an email or presentation, listening actively, and clearly enunciating words when speaking with someone on the phone or video calling them.
10. Don’t try to control everything –
As a leader, it’s important to delegate tasks to your team members instead of trying to do everything yourself. Not only is this inefficient, but it also places too much pressure on yourself and could cause you to burn out quickly. By delegating tasks, you can reduce your own workload and give your team members opportunities to develop.
11. Don’t micromanage –
While it’s important to monitor your team members’ progress closely, you shouldn’t micromanage them. People don’t like to be micromanaged, especially if they’re experienced professionals with unique skills. If you constantly interfere with their work, then it could cause resentment between yourself and the rest of the team.
12. Be organized –
A leader must strive for excellence in the delegation, time management, project planning, prioritization, and execution thereof; else risk falling behind the pack or worse; end up losing the game!
13. Know how much work is “enough” versus “too much”-
Seek to maintain a healthy work-life balance in order to avoid burnout. Overtime and working weekends is not always necessary, nor is it healthy in the long run. Take some time for yourself and make sure that you’re getting enough sleep and exercise. Too much work can lead to health problems, as well as decreased productivity.
14. Be a role model –
As a leader, you need to be a role model for your team members. This means behaving ethically and with integrity, setting a good example, and being someone those others can look up to says Fred Auzenne.
15. Have a vision –
Leaders need to have a clear vision for the future, both for their team and for themselves. This will help to guide your decisions.
Conclusion:
A CEO or leader is not one who knows all the answers, but one who asks the right questions. A good leader always takes time to listen to people and empower their employees which makes them reach further in accomplishing their goals.