Every leader needs a following! Good leaders are supported because people trust and respect them, not simply for the skills they possess.

 

And it would seem that Yvette Cooper MP is fast garnering a lot of support in her bid to run for leadership of the Labour Party. Yvette Cooper has ‘strength of personality’ for leadership, according to Chris Bryant, Rhondda MP.

 

 

You manage things…but people must be lead.

 

Leadership relies on management skills but far more so on qualities such as integrity, vision, courage, commitment, passion, confidence, enthusiasm, innovation, determination and sensitivity.

 

Use these 5 Tips to develop your leadership ability and C.O.U.R.A.G.E

 

 

Not all managers are leaders. But being a great leader starts with being a great manager.

Leadership gets you from 0-1. Then good management gets you from 2-10.

 

Managers focus on DOING:-

 

– Implementing

– Tactical

– Detail

– Shorter-term

– Hands –on

– Directing

– Task-focus

– Doing things right

 

Leaders focus on ENABLING

 

– Planning

– Strategic

– Big picture

– Inspiring

– People focus

– Doing things right

 

As a leader your role if to create a compelling vision that your people want to be part of. You need to decide ‘which wall you lean your ladder against’. Involve your people where appropriate in how you will achieve your goals.

 

 

As a leader, you have 3 key areas of responsibility:-

 

– Achieving the TASK

– Building and maintaining the TEAM

– Developing INDIVIDUALS

 

Taking action in each of these 3 areas (and keeping the balance right), gets results, builds morale, improves quality and is the mark of any successful leader.

 

 

– Define tasks and objectives

– Produce a workable plan

– Communicate clear tasks and objectives

 

 

– Uphold agreed standards

– Maintain discipline

– Resolve conflict

– Build team spirit

– Encourage, motivate and give purpose

– Delegate  – appoint sub leaders

– Ensure communication with the team

– Train, coach, develop

 

 

– Attend to personal problems

– Appreciation and praise 

– Reprimand and redirect

– Appraise performance

– Recognise and use individual abilities

– Train, coach, develop

– Encourage and motivate

– Communicate 

 

 

Confidence in leaders is essential. If you see Yvette Cooper being interviewed, she oozes confidence. 

 

People will rapidly sense whether you have it or not. So building self-confidence is always the starting point to becoming a leader. But never let it become over-confidence the first station on the track leading to arrogance!

 

– How would you rate your self-confidence? (1-10)

– How do others rate you?

– Which aspects of your role do you feel confident about?

– Which aspects do you want to build more confidence in?

– Where might you be in danger of being over-confident or complacent?

 

 

Leaders articulate a compelling vision for the future and think in terms of results, not just tasks. They engage their people’s hearts as well as their minds to motivate them to achieve the desired goals.

 

– How clear is your vision for what you want to achieve with your people over the next year?

– What specific goals have you set for you and your team for the next month/quarter/year?

– How can you further engage your people’s hearts as well as their minds towards their work and goals?

 

 

Can you think of any good leader lacking in enthusiasm? 

 

Enthusiasm is highly contagious and so is a lack of it. Leaders inspire their people through personal example and energy. They create a ‘can do’ atmosphere and talk about ‘challenges’ rather than ‘problems.’

 

– In what ways are you personally setting an example through your enthusiasm?

– How well do you show your own enthusiasm, even when you don’t feel it?

– How do you reward enthusiasm in your people when you see it?

 

Want to read more tips to develop your leadership and C.O.U.R.A.G.E? Visit the new Creativedge free mobile App providing immediate, expert management and personal development tips and advice:- 

 

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/top-10-tips/id796349890?mt=8

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.elixsoft.creativedge