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Successful leadership is about 90% people knowledge and 10% product
knowledge. You can have strong people
skills and not be a good leader, but you cannot be a good leader without people
skills. Successful leaders are able to
discern the needs of their people instinctively, and then take action to meet
them. The following is a list of the
most common needs of people and how to meet them effectively.
1.
People like to feel special – compliment them. The highest compliment a person can receive is one
given by his or her leader. Mark Twain
said, “One compliment can keep me going for a whole month.” Take the time to notice your people’s work
and don’t hesitate to tell them when they’ve done a good job. Make a habit of being generous and sincere
with your compliments.
2.
People look for a better tomorrow – give them hope. “Hope is the feeling we have that the feeling
we have isn’t permanent.” In other
words, when your people are having trouble seeing the light at the end of the
tunnel, remind them of the purpose of their work and help them envision what
their work will accomplish. With hope
your people will work harder and longer to see a task through to completion.
3.
People need to be understood – listen to them. Every leader would be wise to heed the Cherokee saying: “Listen
to the whispers and you won’t have to hear the screams.” Don’t judge what your people want to tell
you before they’ve told you. Take time
to understand their point of view and listen to their suggestions. It’s the best way to ensure that they’ve
been listening to you and it opens the door to innovative ideas for
improvements.
4.
People lack direction – navigate for them. “Unhappiness
is not knowing what we want and killing ourselves to get it.” Part of your job as a leader is to help your
people figure out what they’re most passionate about, and then help them pursue
it. Sometimes that may involve a
position change within your organization or even allowing a person t0 pursue
another opportunity. But when you
understand that effectiveness comes as a result of surrounding yourself with
people who love what they do, it’s not difficult to let a person go who doesn’t
enjoy their work. Spend your best time
developing and giving direction to those who are passionate about the work your
organization is accomplishing.
Ten Ways To Develop Your
Leadership Skills
1.
Follow
your passion
2.
Follow
the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
3.
Don’t
be afraid to take risks.
4.
Develop
your network. Leaders know who to ask
and aren’t afraid to ask. Develop a
Rolodex of experts, resource people and network builders. Keep the doors open with all people of all
different skills and talents, as a leader you will never know when you might
need their service.
5.
Think. Your most powerful tool as a leader is your
mind. Develop your mind. Hang around
people who think. Engage in activities
that expand your mind. Follow your
curiosity. Listen. Ask questions. Examine.
A leader is always thinking.
6.
Keep
a journal of things you’ve learned.
Read a scholarly journal that is “outside” of your filed. Listen to books on tape (Many stores now
rent audio books.)
7.
Find
a mentor. A leader should be constantly
learning from those “above” him.
Leaders know that it’s better to learn from someone else’s mistakes than
to make them yourself. A good mentor
will want to help you avoid his mistakes.
8.
Practice
solving problems. The number one
characteristic most people, organizations and churches are looking for in a
leader is the ability to solve problems.
9.
Seek
ways to constantly develop your leadership skills. Look for seminars or conferences that will help you develop your
skills, particularly in the big three areas:
integrity, innovation, and intelligence. Hang around people who can help you develop your skills. Commit to being a lifelong learner. Your own self-identity as a leader is extremely
important. Only when you recognize your
leadership ability can you begin to develop it.
10. Maintain your relationship
with God. You’re top priority as a
leader is your relationship with God.
The ultimate leader is Jesus Christ.
We should strive to be more like Him.