Send to KindleWhat are the most important actions for a leader? Of course the answer to such a question is highly situational, but I got to thinking about some things good leaders do in general. These are things that should become a habit, things that good leaders do without giving it a lot of thought. These are things that can sometimes prevent the sort of situations that end up begging the question, “What should I do now?”
Here they are: four general actions for great leaders.
Be honest. Personal integrity is vital. It must also be constant. Most people know they shouldn’t lie to the boss, but incredibly, they don’t seem to understand that rule has to work in their relationship with subordinates. The people who rely on you for leadership will, sooner or later, figure out that you’re not being honest. Once that happens, there will be a wedge in your relationship. It is almost impossible to recover from a lack of integrity. So, be honest.
Know the mission and have a plan. People expect the leader to know where they’re going and have a plan to get there. Surprisingly, many don’t. How many leaders have you known who simply show up every day to fight whatever fire is brightest that day? People are better motivated by a leader who knows what direction they’re going, have a plan to get there, and tell the workers about it.
Be enthusiastic. This isn’t always easy but it really helps. You have a plan and know where you’re going and you should be enthusiastic about that. Let people know you believe in what you’re doing, and just as importantly, you believe in what they’re doing. Being enthusiastic also means keeping your problems with the boss, your family, the dog, the car, or whatever else to yourself. Your workers only want to know you’re doing the best you can to support them and those other things are probably not of much concern. I don’t mean put on a false smile all the time. I once knew someone who always was bubbling over with enthusiasm. It was sickening! Your people will see through that and write you off as a fool. But when they see you’re handling your responsibilities, that you really believe in what you and they are doing, and even bad news doesn’t destroy your morale, they will be more enthusiastic as well.
Be resilient. Closely related to being enthusiastic, being resilient means you have the ability to roll with the punches. I’ve seen leaders who react to stressful situations by folding up like a poorly pitched tent in a windstorm. They aren’t much good to anyone. A good leader must be able to shake it off and not let bad news affect relations with their workers. A good leader also won’t let those punches detract them from their plan.
I’m sure anyone can come up with a long list of things a good leader should do in various situations. But, these four behaviors transcend any specific situation and will help a good leader be a great leader!
