We live in a world where strong and effective leadership is vital. After all, the leader is the backbone of every successful team and organization. But it can be hard to understand exactly what makes a good leader and how to become one.
Don't worry! In this article, we will explore the art of becoming a good leader with plenty of actionable advice. We'll also use key insights from bestselling books on the subject, such as Simon Sinek’s 'Leaders Eat Last.’
Whether you dream of becoming an entrepreneur or team leader or are interested in the subject, this guide will give you everything you need to take on a leadership position and shine. If you're looking to learn about leadership for women or leadership skills in general, we've got you covered.
Why good leadership matters
You might wonder why leadership skills are so important. The truth is that good leadership is at the heart of every successful business. However, it’s about so much more than just being a manager; it involves motivating people, empowering them, and inspiring them to improve and achieve a common goal.
Let's look at a few reasons why being a great leader is so important for any organization.
A clear vision: Good leaders provide clear direction for their employees. They can see opportunities hidden in challenges and inspire their teams to keep pushing forward. Overall, they help their teams stay focused and aligned with the ultimate goal. It's much easier to meet long-term objectives in this type of situation.
Increased morale: A good leader quickly notices achievements, encourages engagement, and helps create a positive working environment. Indeed, employees who feel valued and respected tend to have higher job satisfaction, which eases the business’ re-recruitment challenges. A good manager easily builds relationships that benefit everyone in the business.
Improved creativity and innovation: One key leadership quality is the ability to encourage creativity and overall growth. Employees feel free to suggest new ideas without fear of rejection, which helps the business continually improve and grow.
Better business decisions: A good leader can quickly see the bigger picture and make critical decisions for the future of the business. Even in the middle of a crisis, they have a high level of emotional intelligence, allowing them to make decisions calmly and concisely.
Better business performance: The best leaders have a clear idea of their goals and work tirelessly toward them. This focus boosts business performance as a whole, influencing productivity and, ultimately, profitability.
As you can see, a leadership role isn't about telling people what to do; it's about strong decision-making, developing a positive workplace culture, and encouraging employees to meet their potential. A leader is a catalyst for the company's overall success, ultimately helping the business go above and beyond its competitors.
Five steps to good leadership
The most important thing to remember about good leadership is that it's a constantly evolving process. No one achieves a leadership position and stops there because they've reached the pinnacle. It's a little like being a good soccer player; a leader must keep training, learning, and developing to stay at the peak of their game.
With all this in mind, let's examine five steps to becoming a better leader.
Step 1: Build emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence (EI) plays a pivotal role in many areas of life, including leadership. It helps develop a positive work environment, which leads to business success. So, what does it mean? At its core, emotional intelligence involves the ability to recognize, understand, and manage not only your own emotions but also effectively perceive and validate the emotions of others.
In leadership, high EI boosts decision-making, conflict resolution, and the ability to inspire and motivate employees. Leaders with strong emotional intelligence are better at gauging their team's emotional state and adjusting their leadership style accordingly. This skill builds an atmosphere of trust and openness where employees feel valued and understood. Over time, this type of environment increases workplace morale, which raises productivity levels and, ultimately, profits.
For example, an emotionally intelligent leader might notice an employee acting out of character and seeming overwhelmed. They can then offer support and help alleviate the situation wherever possible, such as choosing to delegate tasks. Over time, this reduces employee turnover.
"The time we spend getting to know people when we’re not working is part of what it takes to form bonds of trust. It’s the exact same reason why eating together and doing things as a family really matters. Equally as important are conferences, company picnics and the time we spend around the watercooler. The more familiar we are with each other, the stronger our bonds." — Simon Sinek, 'Leaders Eat Last.'
Step 2: Cultivate integrity and trust
Integrity and ethical leadership are key to building a successful and sustainable culture. Leaders who possess these qualities not only enhance their own credibility and respectability but also instill a strong sense of trust and security within a group of people. By prioritizing ethical decision-making and transparency, you can create an environment where openness, honesty, and mutual respect co-exist.
One way to achieve all of this is through open communication and transparency. This means sharing necessary information but also admitting mistakes. Transparent leaders show that they're authentic and they're not afraid to be vulnerable. It's much easier for employees to relate to them and, therefore, trust what they have to say. Ultimately, this builds loyalty.
Ethical leadership also helps with strong decision-making, as the well-being of the group is at its heart. This approach involves thinking carefully about the impacts of decisions not just on the business profits but on everyone involved, including employees. Simon Sinek highlights this in his bestselling book, 'Leaders Eat Last.' He explains that leaders should create a “circle of safety” that protects employees from pressure and threats. It builds a strong environment where people feel supported and can focus on innovating and sharing ideas.
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."
Step 3: Lead by example and empower your team
A strong leader knows that their actions influence how the team feels about them, the overall culture, and their behavior. Like in parenting, a leader must showcase the way forward so employees can follow. It's about practicing what you preach to build trust and respect.
In his bestseller, 'The 5 Levels of Leadership,' John C. Maxwell emphasizes the importance of empowering team members as a key part of the leadership role. This can be done by careful delegation and building on employee talents and confidence levels. Not only does this approach get work done, but it helps employees develop their skills and build a positive team attitude.
Maxwell takes this a step further by identifying the five levels of leadership that create excellent results, known as the five Ps—Position, Permission, Production, People development, and Pinnacle. Working through these helps you develop strong trust and a positive culture, boosting confidence, productivity, and overall business performance.
"When you like people and treat them like individuals who have value, you begin to develop influence with them. You develop trust."
Step 4: Create a clear vision and communicate effectively
There are different leadership styles, but utilizing a little visionary leadership is a good idea. But this isn't about having a crystal ball and knowing what will happen in the months or years to come. Instead, it's about creating a vision that inspires and motivates employees. This type of leader has a clear and usually quite ambitious idea of what they want to achieve and why it's important. They know what it will do for them, their employees, the business, and the community.
This type of leadership is extremely important because it drives innovation, shows others a path to follow, and helps with problem-solving. However, a leader must clearly communicate their vision as it will become the team's North Star, preventing the business as a whole from losing direction.
Clear communication is one of the most important leadership abilities. Mindful communication works well here and helps set clear and precise expectations. It means ensuring that every member understands the vision and also clearly sees their role in achieving it.
"Effective communication is not someone else’s job, nor does it begin with being understood. Rather, it’s about understanding the other person." — 'QBQ! The Question Behind the Question' by John G. Miller
Step 5: Encourage continuous learning and adaptation
Two strong leadership traits are understanding the vital importance of continuous learning and being able to adapt to new situations quickly. Effective leaders quickly embrace new challenges and technologies and can effortlessly shift their approach. Of course, a commitment to lifelong learning doesn't only mean regularly updating your competencies; it also means encouraging your team members to do the same.
Lifelong learners are generally more equipped to innovate and can effectively inspire their teams. Checking in with yourself regularly to look for areas of growth is a key approach in John Mackey’s best-selling book 'Conscious Leadership' by John Mackey. Additionally, 360-degree feedback approaches can give insights into how effective business leaders are and what can be improved. Staying open to new developments and innovations is also vital.
"Conscious leaders infuse their organization's purpose with authenticity and meaning. They make it come alive, in little ways and big ways, every day. Their passion for purpose can become a touchstone for those around them. They demonstrate and embody the “why” of an organization. And they show a reasonable pathway to "how."
How to measure your leadership skills
Now that you know about leadership development and the necessary skills, how can you measure them to ensure you stay focused on learning and improvement?
Here are a few effective methods to help you evaluate your leadership capabilities as you perhaps work toward further management roles. And remember, all feedback is valuable, even if it's negative.
Self-assessment: Start by reflecting on your perceptions of your leadership skills. Tools like the Leadership Practices Inventory or the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator can give you insights into your leadership efficiency. Focus on effective communication, adaptability, decision-making, and how you motivate your team.
Feedback from others: Ask for feedback, perhaps through a system where you receive anonymous reviews from your peers, superiors, and team members. This helicopter view helps you understand how others view your leadership across different levels. Remember, not all feedback may be positive, but you must accept it as a learning curve.
Set SMART goals: Focus on specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals related to your leadership abilities. Identify one goal and track its metrics over time to receive objective data on your overall effectiveness.
Professional development: Take part in leadership workshops, seminars, or courses. Post-training evaluations can help measure improvements in your leadership abilities and possible next moves.
Mentorship and coaching: Find a mentor or a coach who can provide personalized insights and guidance based on their experience and how they see you. Through these steps, you'll notice blind spots and be able to make positive changes.
Develop your leadership abilities with Headway summaries
Successful leaders know that the learning process is never done and is not just about having a charismatic personality. Instead, it's a truly transformational process that is ongoing throughout their entire career. The fact that you want to learn how to be a good leader is your best starting point. It shows self-awareness and the desire to grow—two qualities of a good leader already!
You could enroll in a leadership program and enhance your skills, focus on good communication skills, and implement the points in this article. However, Headway is always there to help you become a true leader and inspire your team members to greater success.
With 15-minute book summaries on the top leadership best-sellers and more, you can grow on the go by either listening or reading. In time, you'll absorb so many insights that you'll build essential qualities without realizing it.
So, if you're ready to become a better leader, download the Headway app and start learning today!
