What Does It Mean to Be an Effective Leader

If you're considered a leader within your organization or company, you probably see yourself as a boss, a manager, or a CEO.

You are in charge of people, someone to be followed. However, you need to ask yourself these questions: Are you a leader that is set apart from the rest of your company? Do you see your employees as people to control or reprimand when needed?

Or are you a leader that is inspiring passion, drive, vision, and goals among your employees every day through interaction, encouragement, and team building? 

The difference in your answer is what makes an effective leader. Poor leadership brings decreased employee happiness, low engagement, and can be demotivating. It can break a company or organization. Great leadership does the opposite and encourages growth and change. 

If you want to be an effective leader and be in a better workforce with increased productivity, community, and drive, then keep reading! This guide will tell you all you need to know about developing effective leadership within your organization. 

The Traits of Effective Leadership

Anyone can become a leader, whether they were born with leadership skills or taught over time. Good leaders become great leaders when they take the time to learn and understand what traits and behaviors make a positive impact on the teams they work with.

The following principles are traits of effective leadership that can help you in your workplace, and that anyone can use, whether they are a boss or an employee.

• Admit your mistakes
• Be innovative
• Be a good listener
• Communicate well with others
• Continue to brush up your leadership skills
• Embrace change within your company
• Create common values among employees and teams
• Lead by example among your peers
• Encourage teamwork
• Encourage diversity in the workplace
• Make everyone feel important and like they have a voice

These traits can be applied to any workplace setting, whether you work in a hospital, a school, a retail business, or a law firm. Adopting these principles can elevate you professionally and personally. They can also make you a shining example to others on how they can also lead a team. 

An Effective Leader in the Workplace 

A good leader in the workplace is effective because they know and embrace their strengths, while also knowing what they are weak in. They then take this knowledge and work within the culture of their company to better lead and communicate with employees.

There are certain things a leader should do in the workplace that will result in positive employee retention and engagement. The following actions should be taken to ensure a positive work environment and a close-knit team that thrives.

Form Well-Rounded Teams 

When you are a good leader, it is important to surround yourself with a team that has various strengths, skills, and qualities that complement one another. Learning from each other and everyone contributing to your goals differently makes for a high-performing workplace.

Understanding Your Employees' Needs 

Your employees have four basic needs that must be met in the workplace: trust, stability, compassion, and hope. Meeting these needs, and understanding them, can make you a more respected leader in the eyes of your employees. It can also boost your company's productivity and drive when everyone's needs are being met. 

Being Highly Involved in Operations 

Instead of just understanding and presiding over your leadership responsibilities, learn all the aspects of your organization. Invest in different facets of operations and understand what your employees are doing in each department. This gains you more respect from employees. It also boosts morale and camaraderie within your employee network. Your followers are seeing you care and invest in their work and that can make a big impact. 

Taking these steps as a leader can improve your relationship with your team. It can also result in better communication skills and higher emotional intelligence in the workplace. 

Signs Your Leadership Skills Need Help 

As a leader, you can always continue growing your skills. However, if you've noticed your workplace becoming an unhappy and unproductive place, you most likely need to make some major changes.

If you notice your team lacking in the following ways, or your workplace becoming toxic, these all point so signs that you need to improve your leadership skills.

Your Team Is Going Through the Motions 

Your team is stagnant, restless, and bored. They are acting disengaged. This could be a sign that you are not motivating your followers, or enabling them to do better work. 

Feedback Does Not Exist 

Leaders should encourage their team and followers to give feedback and share their opinions and ideas. Your team should not be afraid to share their thoughts and give you feedback. By fixing this, you can solve problems together quicker, and be more productive.

Goals Are Not Being Met 

If your team is consistently not meeting their goals, that is a red flag. As a leader, you need to communicate better with company leaders about reaching more attainable goals. You also need to find out what resources are needed to meet those goals.

If your team is currently struggling with these issues, or you are struggling with leadership issues, don't fear! Leadership skills can always be learned, and a team can change from being isolated and disengaged to a close-knit, productive network.

Take a Leadership Adventure Today

Now that you know more about what makes an effective leader and how you can fix a disengaged team, you are on your way to changing your workplace!

If you want to learn more about leadership skills, and share this with your own team, click here to find out more about the one-of-a-kind leadership development experience that is offered at Sherpa Cruise. 

The need for effective leadership is high, and educating the next generation of leaders is important. Be a leader today, and make the decision to become better for yourself and your team!