6 Tips for Effective Leadership

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6 Tips for Effective Leadership

Is anyone befuddled by the fall from grace of so many leaders? Is anyone befuddled by the choices some leaders make as if nobody is watching? Is

anyone captivated by the word befuddled? OK, maybe that last one is just me.

Let's be very clear. Part of the challenge for leaders is that they are all human.And as humans, we are all flawed. That being said, what is effectiveleadership? Is it a title? Is it achieving goals? Is it inspiring others? Is it seeinga unique vision?

Leadership is a combination of practical skills and personal values that, whenused together, create an atmosphere in which people feel valued and motivatedto pursue a clear vision. It's like Kung Fu meets Feng Shui (that works much

better phonetically than in writing).

I've spent a lot of time thinking about leadership over the past year, as I justfinished my term as president of the National Speakers Association, theassociation for professional speakers, trainers and consultants. Ironically, ouracronym is NSA -- but we're not the ones who listen, we're the ones who talk!

In my role as president, I was the chairperson for the board of directors,appointed and oversaw nearly 40 volunteer leaders, and was an ambassador to38 chapters here in the U.S. and to nine international associations all over the

world. So, I got a good dose of leadership experience.

The following are some concepts that I rediscovered during the past year.

1. Leadership is not always what you do but how you do it . I've seen peoplein leadership roles who have a great vision for where their organization needsto go but the way they manage the process and the way they treat people

becomes a barrier to their success. Leaders who embrace humility,graciousness, and attend to their people, will not only achieve more but havemore support along the way. (Note, this did not apply to Steve Jobs. Just

saying.)

2. Effective leaders know their limitations . Most leaders have specific giftsand skills. They can't be good at everything. An effective leader recognizeslimitations and attracts other people to compliment his/her skills.

3. Great leaders have a sense of humor . There are many examples of leadersusing humor to engage others, disarm conflict and lighten the mood. PresidentRonald Reagan, Tony Hsieh of Zappos, and First Lady Michelle Obama haveused humor effectively in their leadership roles. A leader who has a sense of

humor, especially about themselves, appears more confident and attractsconfidence from others.



4. Leaders do what needs to be done . An effective leader is willing to dowhat needs to be done to move the organization forward. Whether this requireshaving difficult conversations with a staff member, covering for a colleaguewho is ill, or making the right decision rather than the easy decision, a leaderwho does what needs to be done is a leader worth following.

5. Leadership is a service and not a destination. Sometimes people seek a position of leadership for the position itself. They may desire the power or theacclaim that goes with the position. However, a leader that seeks to serve ratherthan to be served will always be more effective.

6. With great power comes great responsibility . This classic line fromSpiderman reinforces the idea that leaders must own their responsibility duringthe good times and the bad times. Leaders who relinquish responsibility toavoid taking blame usually dig a much deeper hole for themselves. Leaderswho step up to their responsibility generate more trust and respect.

There are a lot of leadership books on the market today. But one of the bestindications of effective leadership is not just what is accomplished but how the

people being led to those accomplishments view the leader and the process.

How You Can Be An Effective Leader

Table of Contents

1. Introduction2. Are Leaders Born Or Made?3. What Makes A Leader?4. Knowledge And Understanding5. Skills And Ability Communication6. Teamwork7. Visioning

8. Risk Taking9. Value In Others: Recognition And Encouragement

10. Leadership Styles11. The Four Situational Leadership Styles12. How To Choose The Most Useful Situational Leadership Style13. A Last Thought...14. References



Introduction

You've heard the expression "He/She is a born leader." Are all leaders born? Or can leadership be learned?

This Factsheet takes a close look at the concept of leadership. It will giveleaders who volunteered, were elected or appointed, a number ofguidelines to help them effectively lead their groups.

Are Leaders Born Or Made?

Leadership can be learned. We all have leadership potential, just as wehave some ability to sing or run. Some people may be better than others,

but each of us has a starting point to build on with training and practice.You do not have to be officially designated as a leader of a group to be aneffective leader.

Leadership is a process that helps a group to achieve its goals. Leadersand group members can mutually influence each other's ideas.

"The person who exhibits leadership is ... someone that makes thingshappen that would not happen otherwise." (A.D. Edwards and D. Jones)

What Makes A Leader?

Leaders should be well organized and have made time in their lives fortheir organization. Leadership requires commitment.

Leadership is a mix of knowledge, values, skills, and behaviours. Each ofus has beliefs about what characteristics an effective leader should

possess. Different groups will also have different beliefs or values aboutwhat "makes" an effective leader than other groups have. Your group willassess your leadership, and your success may depend on how well yourleadership characteristics match those that they value.

It is important, then, for a leader to know his/her own abilities, knowledgeand values and how others perceive them. For example, if "trust" is aquality which is highly valued by your group, then it is important for youto be viewed as a trustworthy person. By knowing your own strengths andweaknesses, you can also develop a plan to work on those areas you maywish to improve.

"Recognizing strengths and compensating for weaknesses represents the

first step in achieving positive self regard." (Warren Bennis & Burt Nanus)



A successful leader makes an effort to learn and practise skills. Some ofthe more essential components are: the knowledge and understanding ofspecific tasks; the skills and ability to communicate, build teams, vision,and take risks; and, a value for individuals, the group, and itsresponsibilities.

Knowledge And Understanding

General knowledge about the organization, how a meeting is run, and theorganization's business is essential.

For example, an effective leader knows the purpose of the group ororganization (why it exists), its goals (long-term plan), and objectives(short-term plans).

He/She should understand parliamentary procedure, the role of thechairperson, and the purpose and design of an effective agenda.

In addition, an awareness of the subject that the group is involved with isimportant. If you are a director of the Widget Association, you shouldknow a little bit about widgets.

Skills And Ability Communication

We tend to think of a good communicator as a good speaker. This is only partly true. Good communicators can express themselves clearly and withconfidence. However, a key and often forgotten component of effectivecommunication is LISTENING.

A good listener hears not only facts but also feelings. Paraphrasing orrestating the person's message in shorter terms is a useful technique. Ithelps to clarify the message, and it shows the speaker that you have heardwhat they have said. "So you're saying that I should repeat what was justsaid, only in my own words, eh?"

"Successful leaders, we have found, are great askers, and they do payattention." (Warren Bennis & Burt Nanus)

Teamwork

A leader cannot achieve success alone. The old notion that a leader is "thetop of the pyramid" is false. An effective leader is involved and in touchwith group members. He/she enables them to act by providing technical

assistance, emotional support and vision.



Effective leaders insist on the support and assistance of those affected bythe project. They think in terms of "we" not "I."

"The few projects in my study that disintegrated did so because the

[person] failed to build a coalition of supporters and collaborators." (R.Moss Kanter)

Visioning

A leader also develops a vision of the organization's future. It is importantto communicate this vision to members of the group, allowing them torespond and become part of the visioning process. You should build avision with others. Visioning is a collaborative effort! Your group willgrow and prosper by building commitment to a vision or dream that is

shared by all. Telling others outside of the organization about the vision isimportant to the process of developing your own commitment to it.

"Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world." (Joel ArthurBaker)

Risk Taking

A leader is a risk taker and an innovator. New ideas may come from

yourself from others in the organization, or from the community. A leadershould recognize good ideas, actively support them, and encourage action.One may call them early adapters of innovation.

"Leaders are pioneers - people who are willing to step out into theunknown." (Olle Bovin)

Just think of the first time you played baseball. You probably were not perfect at hitting the ball or running the bases. Leaders are learners andmust be able to learn from their mistakes as well as their successes. Somust they encourage their group members and support them through theirmistakes. Without mistakes, there is no learning or growth.

All changes and innovations involve risk and challenge.

Value In Others: Recognition And Encouragement

An effective leader must take the time to recognize and reward people forwhat they've done. Individuals may become tired, bored or frustrated with

a particular task or goal. They are often tempted to give up. A leader must provide the encouragement to motivate members to carry on.



Recognition comes in many forms; it may be given to individuals or togroups. It may be as simple as a word of encouragement: "You did a great

job, thanks." Whatever the method, give credit and praise when and whereit is due. And do not forget to reward yourself. Celebrate once a goal ormilestone has been reached.

"Good thoughts not delivered mean squat." (Ken Blanchard)

Showing a genuine concern and respect for your work, your people andyour community may be the best strategy in reaching your goal ofoutstanding leadership.

Leadership Styles

A leader may use different styles in carrying out his/her role. Manydifferent theories of leadership have been developed through years ofresearch with groups and organizations. "Situational Leadership" is a very

popular "framework" to follow. It explains that the style a leader choosesdepends mostly upon the group's level of readiness. That is, how willingand able the members are to take responsibility as a group. SituationalLeadership recognizes that the leader must be flexible and the groupmembers are the most important factor.

The willingness of a group relates to its attitude. If a group is willing, thenit has the confidence, commitment and motivation to accomplish aspecific job or activity. A leader who provides support and encouragementto a group is demonstrating a "maintenance" or "relationship" behaviour.

Being able (or having ability) means that the group has the knowledge,skill and experience to accomplish a particular task. When a leaderexplains what each member is to do, as well as when, where, and howtasks are to be accomplished, he or she is demonstrating task-oriented

behaviour.

According to Situational Leadership, the appropriate style depends on thecombinations of "willingness and ability" in a group. In general, the morewilling and able the group, the less directive or task-oriented should be theleader. The four different styles and most appropriate situation for eachare described below.

The Four Situational Leadership Styles

Style 1 - The "Directing/Telling" Leader

Situation: (Group members are - unwilling and unable) This style isappropriate when the members are new or inexperienced and need a lot of



help, direction and encouragement in order to get the job done. Thefeeling or relationships within the group are not explored to a great extent.This leader provides structure and guidance to the group. The leaderdefines the role of group members and directs them on what, how, whenand where to do various tasks. A supportive role may also be provided toreward and encourage.

Style 2 - The "Coaching/Selling" LeaderSituation: (Group members are - willing but unable) Here the group is alittle more responsible, experienced and willing. The leader's main role isto assist the members in doing a task for which they do not have the skills.The leader coaches the members through the skills of the task. Directionand guidance are necessary. The leader also provides plenty ofencouragement and inspiration to maintain the willingness (motivation) of

the group.

Style 3 - The "Participating/Supportive" LeaderSituation: (Group members are - unwilling but able) Leaders using thissupportive style know the group has the ability to do the job. However, thegroup may be unwilling (apprehensive, bored, etc.) to start or completethe task. Therefore, the group members and leader participate in makingdecisions and carrying them out together. Here, the leader puts moreemphasis on relationships and individuals' feelings within the group.Members feel important when the leader provides moral support andencouragement. The leader is a resource person and helper in this role.

Style 4 - The "Delegating/Trusting" LeaderSituation: (Group members are - willing and able) A leader will choose to

be a delegator when the group members are both willing and able to takeresponsibility for directing their own behaviour. The leader trusts thegroup to do their own thing and observes from a distance.

How To Choose The Most Useful Situational Leadership Style

Important: no one style of leadership is appropriate for every occasion orsituation! To be a good leader, know your group - "where they are at" interms of their ability, knowledge, desire and willingness. In addition, youmust be aware of your preferred style and how others perceive you. Beready to adapt that leadership style to the occasion. Practise moving fromone style to another, depending on the occasion. Use the behavioursappropriate for that style - they're easy to learn!

A Last Thought...

There is no secret recipe or magical formula to become an effective leaderovernight. It is a process of trial and error, successes and failures. Never



stop learning, and with practice you can increase your success inleadership!

"The future will require those of us in such positions to keep our eyes, ears and

minds open. It will require us to listen and to involve, to coach and to develop,to enrich and to motivate, to risk and to credit, to care and to express concern,and to laugh - especially at ourselves." (John H. Anthony)

7 Traits of Highly Effective LeadersBY PETER ECONOMY

If you want to up your leadership game, adopt these 7 qualities.

A remarkable amount of time, effort, and money has been devoted to thestudy of leadership . Despite all this research, there is little agreement aboutexactly what leadership is.

Still, people know effective leadership when they see it. And while greatleaders may sometimes be born that way, there are certain traits that greatleaders share in common that anyone can practice and adopt to become moreeffective.

What qualities are those? Well, to be a highly effective leader, you must ...

... inspire action.

Try to paint a vision of the future that inspires your people to do whatever ittakes to get there. The best leaders also clear away the organizationalroadblocks that constrain employees’ natural creativity and initiative,unleashing a tremendous amount of energy in the process.

... be optimistic.

We all want to work with and for people who lift us up into the clouds insteadof dragging us down into the mud. Make sure to seek out the positives in yourpeople, helping them overcome their own feelings of self-doubt and spreadingoptimism throughout your organization.

... have integrity.

Research shows that the top thing that employees want from their leaders is

integrity. Be honest, fair, candid and forthright, and treat everyone in the sameway that you yourself would want to be treated.



... support and facilitate your team.

For people to do their very best work, they need an organizational environmentthat supports them by making it safe to take risks, to tell the truth, and to speakup ... without being punished for doing so. Support your employees by creatingthis kind of environment, and it will facilitate their progress toward attainingyour organization’s goals .

... have confidence.

Highly effective leaders know deep down inside that they and their team canaccomplish anything they set their minds to. Failure is not an option. Tentativeleaders make for tentative employees . If you’re confident, your people will betoo.

... communicate.

In any organization, knowledge is power, and great leaders ensure that everyemployee, from the very top to the very bottom of the org chart, is providedwith complete and up-to-date information about the organization’s goals ,performance, successes and failures. To achieve this level of connection, youshould also provide ample channels for two-way communication betweenemployees and managers, actively soliciting their ideas for improvement andrewarding employees for submitting them.

... be decisive.

One of the most basic duties of any leader is to make decisions. Highlyeffective leaders aren’t afraid to be decisive and to make tough calls quicklywhen circumstances require it. Once you have all the information you need tomake an informed decision, then don’t hesitate--make it. And once you make adecision, then stick with it unless there is a particularly compelling reason foryou to change it.

No matter what type of organization or industry you're in, it's possible tobecome a more effective leader, inspiring your people to give their very bestevery day of the week. Make a point of practicing these 7 leadership traits, andyou will be a highly effective leader too.

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6 Tips for Effective Leadership