Being the best leader you can be

As I sat down to write this post about ‘what you need to do to be the best leader you can be’ the words of a fellow coach came to mind – that many leaders think it’s about what they do; they don’t realise that it’s about who they are.  And I think that’s the key.  When you’re in a management or leadership position you are expected to produce results but you do that through your team and it’s who and how you are (your behaviours) that will motivate them to produce their very best work.  And why is it important to be able to engage your team and be a great leader? – well, the Macleod report Engaging for Success (2009) found that

–Highly engaged employees try 50% harder and perform 20% better

–Disengaged employees cost UK business a staggering £40 billion pa!

What a waste of  human potential as well as money, which is in short supply at the moment – you don’t need expensive computer systems, streamlined processes etc – you just need to make the most of the people you have!

How to be…..

So one brilliant place to start is to think about people you have worked for, or are working for, who have really brought out the best in you – or even to think about those who have demotivated and constricted you because if you turn that on its head it will tell you how you do want to be. My first simple lessons in management style were when I was a student doing temporary jobs in my holidays – I quickly saw how I did and didn’t want to be: the manager who asked rather than told and always said please and thank you motivated me far more than the one who would never even say good morning as he passed my desk on the way to his office.  In fact I got quite obsessive about how rude he was and put a lot of my time and energy into that rather than the job! Another great manager for me was one who disagreed with a decision I had made and rather than just overturning it we sat down and talked about it, discussed other options and she left the final decision to me before helping me work through how I could change it while still maintaining face.

The best thing about finding role models in others is that you can ‘pick and mix’ – because no one is perfect! the manager I mention above also set very high standards and expectations which I know helped me to achieve things I never would have thought possible.  However, she also didn’t know when to stop pushing and sometimes the stress would become too much for myself and other colleagues and we felt unable to say ‘enough!’

So think about those around you with the qualities and behaviours you admire – observe who and how they are and talk to them about their management philosophy – especially to find out the values and beliefs which drive them.  And of course the beauty of this is that it’s something you can do all through your career as you face every new challenge – think about who would be a role model in how to handle it.

Another fantastic way I’ve found of being the most excellent leader you can be is to be your best self – so more on that next time….

In the meantime what has worked for you in becoming a great leader (or what hasn’t!)?  post your comments below

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