How to Develop Leaders Within Your Organisation

Leadership is an essential aspect of any organization, and developing effective leaders is crucial to achieving success. Unfortunately, many people in leadership positions are leaders in title only, lacking the skills to inspire, empower, and serve their team effectively. To help HR/Business leaders ensure that their managers and leaders are effective, here are five key areas to focus on:

Defining Leadership

To start, it’s crucial to define what leadership means within your organization. Consider what values and behaviors are important to your team and develop a leadership model that reflects those values. For instance, if you value innovation, you might develop a model that emphasizes creativity, risk-taking, and open-mindedness.

Think of others’ needs before your own

To be an effective leader, you need to prioritize the needs of your team members. This might involve actively listening to their concerns, providing constructive feedback, and recognizing their accomplishments. For example, a manager could start team meetings by asking each member to share something positive that happened to them that week. This shows that the manager cares about the team’s well-being and helps create a positive and supportive work environment.

Set high standards and hold people accountable to them

Leaders need to set high standards for themselves and their team, then hold everyone accountable to those standards. This could involve developing clear performance metrics, providing regular feedback, and offering opportunities for professional development. For instance, a sales manager could develop a sales goal for each team member and monitor their progress through regular check-ins. By holding team members accountable, the manager creates a culture of accountability and promotes high performance.

Read more: Great Leaders Develop People Intentionally

Devote time every day to the development of leadership skills

Developing strong leadership skills requires continuous learning and reflection. Encourage managers and leaders to take time each day to reflect on their leadership style, learn from others, and seek out professional development opportunities. This could involve reading books on leadership, attending conferences or workshops, or seeking out mentorship from more experienced leaders within the organisation. By prioritising learning and development, managers and leaders can continually improve their skills and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices.

Admit you don’t know all the answers

No leader has all the answers, and it’s essential to recognise this and seek out support when needed. Encourage managers and leaders to build a strong support network within the organisation, including peers, mentors, and other leaders. This could involve seeking out advice on challenging situations, collaborating with others on projects, and providing feedback and support to others. By admitting when they don’t have all the answers, leaders can create a culture of openness and collaboration within the organisation.

Improve your communication skills

Effective communication skills are vital for leaders as they build strong relationships, trust, and unity within a team or organisation. Leaders must articulate their vision, goals, and expectations clearly and persuasively to inspire and motivate their team members. Furthermore, effective communication promotes active listening, allowing leaders to address concerns, conflicts, and feedback effectively. Proficient communication also fosters transparency, resulting in boosted accountability. It's worth noting that leaders and business owners often pursue courses to enhance their speaking abilities, such as public speaking or working with a business storytelling trainer. 

Come up with a mantra that motivates and inspires others

A powerful mantra can inspire and motivate team members to achieve their goals. Encourage managers and leaders to develop a mantra that reflects their team’s values and aspirations. For example, a team working on a new product might develop a mantra like “innovate, iterate, and deliver.” This mantra reminds the team of their shared goals and helps them stay focused on what’s important.

Developing effective leaders takes time and effort, but it’s an investment that pays off in the long run. By defining leadership, focusing on others, setting high standards, devoting time to development, admitting weaknesses, and inspiring others with a motivating mantra, HR/Business leaders can help their managers and leaders become effective and inspiring leaders. Remember, leadership is a journey, not a destination, and it takes dedication and hard work to become an effective leader.

This article was first published on leenallalingham.com

This article is also available in Chinese.