Leadership 101?

What are the core skills that make a successful leader? This question arises any time you are in a position to promote someone to a higher level based on valid experience and qualifications. It is believed that you must learn how to follow before you can lead and I believe that nothing is further from the truth. When it comes down to it, the hard truth is that by learning to follow first you are really observing what good leaders do and developing your own ideas on how to affectively manage a group and accomplish many tasks at once.

First and foremost multitasking becomes a primary responsibility that must be mastered in order to effectively lead any group of people. On any given day you will probably encounter 15 or more issues which must be resolved efficiently. Finding the right pattern of resolution is completely up to the person in charge and really there is no exact art, again it’s an individual practice mastered to ones own personal skills, patience level, and determination.

You may not think that time management would be so high on the list however it does play a massive role in how productive a leader is. This is a responsibility not to be taken lightly because once you understand how important it is, you must figure out a way of incorporating it into your daily life. For example, I’ve known a few people who would not be successful today if they hadn’t made a to-do list for themselves every day and stuck to it. Another great example would be to make comparison to family management so that a home runs smoothly. This probably requires some type of daily routine which makes everyone aware of what role they play in the plan.

Next we must explore the importance of discipline, not only for the leader themselves but how to effectively execute it with the people below you. Most productivity issues derive from employees who are distracted on the job, have friends in the establishment, tardiness, and absenteeism. Quickly but discreetly addressing these issues is pertinent to maintaining the qualitative state of the business. An effective supervisor will follow these rules whenever discipline is needed;

1.        Conduct an initial verbal warning (state the issue and how it needs to be resolved.)*

2.        Provide a written second warning which must be signed by employee outlining the continuing issue that has not been resolved.

3.        Final notice that issue has not been resolved and what disciplinary action will be taken.

*Some supervisors will omit the verbal warning and instead use two written warnings for documentation in an employee file. This is a company option as in most cases they can keep better track of employee issues rather than relying on word-of-mouth.

The last two qualities of any good leader really work hand in hand; follow-up and back-up. When we further examine many different supervisors and their train of thought regarding leadership, it is recognized that checking on employees frequently really helps to increase productivity and quality of work. The most important part of follow up is recognition of a job well done and praises and rewards. Lack of these qualities in a supervisor can make for a tension-filled workplace because employees do not feel appreciated for getting up and coming to work every day. It is pretty much expected by most low-end employees that they won’t here it from the big man, therefore it’s important to hear it from the direct supervisor. Back-up is a term I use to describe how good leaders adjust to their surroundings. So many aspects play into this concept. You must have good communication skills and a sound mind to deal with different kinds of people, and by all means when one thing doesn’t work, you must be willing to try other methods.

When someone accepts the appointment to become a supervisor of others, they truly are entering a world all its own, for it is at that time that they really must learn how to separate their personal feelings and relationships from business handlings. Anyone who is motivated enough and understands how important their position is can be successful, but just like anything else; you are only successful as you tell yourself you are.