- Be Present – Many times as leaders we get so involved in meetings and phone calls. We forget about our staff that reports to us. Or we have so many layers built up underneath us that we didn’t even realize that we have new staff starting. Take the time to say good morning, when the staff leaves at the end of the day, say Thank You! Come out of your office walk around and have a conversation with your staff. You will be so surprised at their response.
- Have a listening ear – People want to be heard, as a leader, it is your job to take a moment and listen. You might be in the middle of a deadline; however it is your job to put the people first, to show them that they are important and that you are there for me.
- Reproduce – Good leaders lead, Great leaders reproduce leaders.
- Treat everyone like a C-Suite Leader – It’s not just the CEO that you should give respect. It’s also the guy in the mailroom; the lunch lady in the cafeteria; the person that cleans the restrooms or the staff that shows up to work every day. See everyone as a C-Suite leader and you will be surprised at the level of respect you will receive.
- Be A Change Agent – Don’t settle for the same old, same old. Change is GOOD! If you want to get different results, you must do something different.
- Don’t Reinvent the Wheel
- Invest in your craft – The best way to cultivate your leadership skills is to stay on top of the best practices and to network. Attend conferences, join a club, go to a leadership lunch or a workshop.
- There are NO mistakes – Use every opportunity as a learning opportunity. Some of the greatest leaders learned the most not from their successes, but from their failures.
- Find a Mentor/Be a Mentor – I am a firm believer that mentoring works! Find yourself a leader that can mentor you, that can tell you when you are right and also when you are wrong. Be a mentor, find some young person or a group of young people that you can mentor and watch grow into great leaders.
- Be Authentically, Unapologetically, Uniquely – You! – Never apologize for who you are; the gift that God has given you, or your leadership style. Not every leader is alike, you must lead the way that works for you; with integrity, honesty, and humility.
