Growing a business does not just mean landing more clients or getting people to buy more of your products. Long-term growth means investing in the development of workers at all levels. No matter how great your plans, if the team handling a project cannot strategise well, you will not see the growth you want.
Here are five things that will help you cultivate leaders at work.
1. Set clear goals and targets
A leader should clarify to his team which tasks are urgent, which ones are vital, and which they can postpone. Startups and small companies often have so many daily tasks, preventing employees from gauging which ones they need to accomplish first.
Encouraging your team members to be leaders means displaying leadership yourself, and one way to do this is by being decisive in focusing everyone’s energy and setting goals.
2. Let workers manage themselves
You hired your team members for their technical skills, so give them the space to figure out the best way to accomplish their goals. Enabling leadership involves leveraging the talents of subordinates, which not only frees up time but also creates engaged employees.
Micromanaging is common among leaders, especially those who are keen on seeing a job well done. However, it is also a sign that someone has not figured out what the key indicators are for a specific role. With a definite list of milestones, you’re sure to see progress in a project even if you’re not there to see the steps through yourself.
3. Assign more tasks to direct reports
Delegating tasks makes your work as a manager more efficient, but improper delegation could also prevent you from completing projects. You must know which people to assign work to, and when you should do this.
You should delegate to your direct reports anything that is not strategic or valuable to your role. Assess your tasks and sort them by complexity, and focus on the essential, complex items that require more of your time.
4. Create engaging presentations
People do not want to buy uninteresting products, and they don’t care about boring presentations. As a leader, it is your job to inspire your subordinates and spur them to action, and you cannot do that with subpar presentation skills. Use stories and illustrations when making a point, and get your audience involved by asking them questions.
5. Reflect on your leadership skills
Finally, a great leader also reflects on the impact they have on their team. Ask yourself what you want to achieve, and what positive effects that you want your leadership to have on your workplace.
You could even think of the problems you want to solve and the opportunities you plan on taking. An effective leader does not just think of himself and the moment. They plan for the future and considers the workplace culture they will leave behind.
Conclusion
You’ll readily find people with good technical skills, but leadership takes time to develop. Without leaders, your unit will lack focus and might struggle with prioritising tasks. To prevent that from happening, start nurturing the leadership potential you see in your employees.
Make success part of your company’s DNA by consulting with SKILLFIRE today. Our consultants in Melbourne can help you build a culture of success and ensure leadership uplift in your company. Get in touch with us today for more information.