4 Ways To Become A Better Leader In The Workplace
June 29, 2021
How can you become a better leader in the workplace?
- Identify and understand your leadership style
- Practice effective communicating and listening
- Offer rewards and recognition where due
- Continuously learn to lead
Leadership in the workplace refers to an individual’s ability to manage a company, including its employees. If you are a CEO, business owner, or manager, you will likely have a team looking up to you for direction. If you know the ways to become a better leader in the workplace, the more likely you will positively impact the decisions, actions, and overall attitude of your team. Successful business entrepreneurs recognize that this positive working environment sets up companies for success.
In this article, we will delve deeper into leadership in the workplace, the qualities of leaders, and how to improve them for a more successful work environment.
Identify and Understand Your Leadership Style
To be an effective leader, you should have a strong sense of what your leadership style is. Every CEO, business owner, and manager has a unique leadership style, and identifying your own will make you confident in leading not only the company at large but your employees individually as well. For example, some leaders are known as coaches, while others are more authoritative in approach.
A good way to start assessing yourself is to take leadership style quizzes to get a general idea of how you lead. As you determine your leadership style, you’ll be able to differentiate your strengths from your weaknesses for improvement opportunities. For example, if you find out you are a good coach, you’ll be able to use the ability where it needs to be used the most in the company (i.e., unlocking employees’ potential).
You should also consider how your leadership style can be a weakness. For example, if you have an authoritarian leadership style, your team might perceive you as “dictatorial” and inhibit them from sharing opinions for company development.
Practice Effective Communicating and Listening
Good leaders communicate clearly with their teams both in individual and group settings. By maintaining open lines of communication, you can clearly set expectations and clarify misunderstandings. You can also ensure that your employees feel free to ask questions and give valuable opinions for improving processes.
Being a good communicator is just one aspect of being a good leader. Along with having effective communication skills, a leader should also be a good listener. Leaders must be able to show empathy and motivate employees by listening. This can also mean learning to admit when you are in the wrong or being open to change. In the end, your team will respect you more and trust you for solutions.
Pay attention to your team and make sure they know you are willing to listen to their needs. This makes your team feel you value them and consequently, they can become more engaged to work. Keep in mind that being a good listener means understanding both verbal and non-verbal cues as well.
Offer Rewards and Recognition Where Due
Another important quality of a good leader involves acknowledging that giving rewards and recognitions are one of the best ways to make employees feel appreciated.
When employees feel they are valued, they are more likely to be inspired to put in more effort at work. Remember that does not always mean giving cash rewards. Sometimes, a simple “well done” or pat on the way can encourage your team greatly.
Continuously Learn To Lead
The best leaders always find opportunities to become better. Leadership is a continuous process. A leader has to guide employees all the time to make sure that their efforts are not deviating from the company’s goals.
To add to that, leaders must be agile to adapt to the ever-changing business climate. You are put in charge of growing your organization and learning is a huge part of this process. So, consider having a mentor or increasing your knowledge by reading leadership books and listening to leadership podcasts.
Key Takeaway
Whether you are a CEO, business owner, or manager, know that the journey toward becoming a better leader is easier said than done. These 4 ways to become a better leader in the workplace can help steer you in the right direction, but you will always need to continuously learn.
If you’re ready to learn more about leadership tips, let Benito Keh help you get started. As one of the successful business entrepreneurs in the Philippines, he knows the do’s and don’ts when it comes to elevating your skills for the overall improvement of your company.
