Leadership Rules to Remember: Part 1 of 3

Ready to be a boss, like a boss? Read on to discover my top 23 leadership rules (this week is part 1/3)! These lessons were learned by yours truly, over an 18-year leadership career, in which I was WAY LESS THAN PERFECT! So don’t feel bad if you feel like you have a lot to learn – we all do! In fact, the fact that you’re willing to learn makes you a great leader already!!!

#1. It is our responsibility to have our staff be awesome, and there is always something WE can do better as leaders!

It is very easy to point the finger at a team member and say “you are wrong” or “be better” but it is very EFFECTIVE to point that finger at YOURSELF and ask “what could I do better, to facilitate better results here?”

#2. Challenging conversations: start with sorry, ask questions and really LISTEN

Many people go into challenging/disciplinary/coaching conversations with staff with the intention of talking only about that person’s behavior. In keeping with rule #1, instead, go in and start by apologizing for ANYTHING you could have done better! This will lower their defenses, show them that you take responsibility and accountability, and you will have a MUCH MORE productive conversation! They usually end up apologizing too! The only way to have an effective caching conversation is to ask questions and truly listen to the answers. My definition of listening is to hear the other person with the real possibility of having your mind changed.

#3. Focus on the outcome, not the method

People learn differently, think differently, react differently, and solve problems differently. Don’t micromanage by telling them exactly how to complete every task, let them come up with the method sometimes, just focus on getting the desired result/outcome! That’s all you want anyway, and they’re way more likely to be bought in, enthusiastic, happy and productive if THEY come up with the way to achieve the end result, some of the time!

#4. They have to genuinely WANT to perform for you, that comes from feeling cared about and supported

Forcing, bullying, or cajoling people into performing is NOT sustainable, effective, or right! The only way to get great performance from your team is to have them WANT to perform. Staff respond very well to a leader who cares about them, supports them, and has their back. See? This leadership stuff is easy… just be a good person!

#5. Self-awareness/emotional intelligence IS KEY. Start working on yourself NOW! Look at yourself every time “what can I do better?”

You can read this next sentence with two different attitudes: 1. that’s great news! or 2. why do I always have to be the one to grow/change? I think you know which one will work best! That’s right, approaching every situation with “how can I be better?” or “how can I grow here?” will give you the upper hand in business, and in LIFE! Accept that life is going to be one long, amazing journey of personal and professional development, and dig in! It’s actually REALLY empowering to know that you can improve ANYTHING and EVERYTHING by improving yourself (your outlook, your approach, or your actions).

#6. Be authentic, relatable, open, vulnerable

One of my favorite new leaders made this into an acronym so he could remember it… AROV….. if it works for you, borrow it! Either way, remember that you need to be a REAL HUMAN with your staff! Don’t pretend to know everything, don’t act fake or superior, or cold! Be authentic! Be relatable! Be open, and yes, be VULNERABLE (GASP!) That’s right, be VULNERABLE. It’s OK to show the staff that you’re human! In fact, when you admit that you don’t know something, or apologize for doing something less than perfect, you IMPROVE your connection with your team! They WANT to work for someone who’s human! I promise!

Take these tools into your business this week, I know they will make you a better leader if you use them.

If you feel you need some help increasing your profits, contact TMH Business Coaching and Consulting today for a confidential, free, no obligation consultation to propel you forward. Also, please feel free to add yourself to our weekly coaching tips email!

If you feel you need some help increasing your profits, contact TMH Business Coaching and Consulting today for a confidential, free, no obligation consultation to propel you forward. Also, please feel free to add yourself to our weekly coaching tips email!