How to Become a Good Leader

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Sometimes it happens that yesterday's ordinary employee suddenly sits down in the boss's chair and does not know at all what to do in this chair. Handing out errands left and right? And how can you maintain a trusting relationship with your subordinates? How to make them respect their boss, but at the same time not build a huge wall of misunderstanding between them and themselves? In general, a novice leader has more questions than answers. And this is not surprising: the huge responsibility and the desire to remain "in the board" do not want to get along together, because it is enough just once to give up the slack, as observant and cunning subordinates sit on their necks and hang their legs.

When they say about someone that he is a leader from God, then we are talking about a talented manager who knows with whom to be strict, and who can be given indulgence, at which moments to show all the firmness of character, and at which to make concessions … Unfortunately, not everyone can boast of such skills, some power obscures their eyes, and they, forgetting that yesterday they were sweet and smiling Tanechka for everyone, suddenly become cold and too detached Tatyana Vyacheslavovna - only this way, and nothing else. Sincerely believing that the secret of the chief's success lies in ostentatious distancing, such bosses meet only misunderstanding and alienation of the team, and then they are surprised: "Well, what did I do wrong?"

For a really good leader, it is important to feel when relationships at work move from friendly to familiar, when you can delegate authority to others, and when you should control everything yourself.

In general, if a leadership position unexpectedly fell on your fragile shoulders, then our advice will be useful to you. At least in theory, you'll be at least a little ready for the boss's everyday life.

Explore the collective

No, you do not need to scrupulously collect files on each subordinate or study personal files. Perhaps you have become the head of a department in which you yourself have recently worked, and you know each of the employees very well. But if by the will of fate you found yourself in a new team for yourself, then carefully observe each of the subordinates and note for yourself who is strong in what and who is responsible for what. This is necessary for this: for sure, there are people among colleagues who are well versed in narrow professional issues, and it is on them that you can rely when your higher management gives you a task that is not entirely within your sphere of competence.

Encourage initiative

Do not show your subordinates that you are smarter than everyone else and know best how and what to do. If you - a person with an economic education - have taken a leadership position in a construction company, then it would be at least foolish to prove to an experienced civil engineer that you know how to lay bricks better than him. In addition, you do not need to suppress the initiative on the part of your subordinates. Of course, you want to be the best, but isn't it better to let people understand that you believe in them and that you are not working for your image, but for the good of the company?

Do not carry out public executions

We do not argue that some of the subordinates are real talents in driving to white heat, but try to remain calm: do not sink to the level of a hysterical who, blushing and using obscene language, scolds the "penalty box" for a mistake. Intemperate, unable to control themselves, women-leaders, as a rule, are not taken seriously, joking behind their backs: “Probably the red days of the calendar. Or the man was gone for a long time.

One step lower

Do not hesitate to do work that you think others should do. Do you think that a good leader only gives out assignments, while he sits at his large table, plays solitaire and reaps the fruits of the labors of other people? Nothing like this. A good leader will help when necessary, and will go to work on Sunday, if the situation requires it, and he will type the text of the letter on the computer when all subordinates are busy with other things. Don't think that you can now wear crystal white gloves because you will never get your hands dirty again. "Foul up", and how.

Call me Tanechka

We have already discussed the example with Tanechka and Tatyana Vyacheslavovna, but this woman's mistake is not that she suddenly added a middle name to her sweet name. Nobody canceled subordination at the workplace. Rather, the mistake is that from a sweet, friendly girl, she abruptly turned into a cold boss-shrew. But it would be just as wrong if, having become a leader, Tatyana continued to run at dinners in a cafe with her subordinates, and turned meetings into friendly gatherings with tea and gingerbread. Such an attitude can turn even the best darling boss into an empty place for his subordinates. Do not forget that in trying to appear “your own on the board”, you risk losing credibility in the eyes of the company's employees.