Business leaders often find that they’ve assumed a position of authority without any obvious leadership experience. Take your typical small business owner, for example: in order to realise the full potential of their business idea, they will likely need to build and lead a team – something they’ve probably never had to do before.
So, how, if you’ve had little or no leadership experience, do you establish yourself as a leader? I recently came across a Forbes article which offers up a few defining characteristics of leadership that serve as a good place to start:
1. Listen to what your team tells you
Communication is as much about listening as it is speaking and writing. In fact, what your team tell you will inform what you say – to some extent, at least – so make sure you take in all the different perspectives within the team.
If you’re a great listener, you stand a better chance of delivering a message that hits the mark with your team. Asking your team questions and listening carefully to their answers will also help you to build knowledge about the company, because things will sometimes change without you necessarily knowing about it, even if you’re the business owner.
2. Share your knowledge
A great leader seems to have unending knowledge, making them the go-to person when somebody needs advice. In reality, they don’t know everything – nobody does – but they’re experts in their subject, which is what matters.
Don’t be shy in sharing your knowledge. Your team will appreciate it if you take the time to empower them with information. At the end of the day, you’re just trying to help them do the best job they can.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
As we’ve highlighted before on the blog, the very best leaders aren’t afraid to ask for help to get them to where they want to be. Sometimes you need someone to turn to who has ‘been there, done it’ – even if it’s just for some confirmation that you’re making the right decisions.
Leading a business can be a lonely place, but it doesn’t need to be. Seeking out the right support not only makes you a better leader, it can be healthy for your well-being, knowing that somebody is seeing things from your perspective.
4. Accept failure
Our last blog was all about how failure is “par for the course for a business leader”, because not everything you attempt is going to come off. Failure, then, must be accepted as a simple by-product of being a leader. Instead of letting it hold you back, use it as fuel to propel you forward.
It’s also important to accept that your team will also endure failure. Instead of chastising them when they come up short, commend them for trying. That way, they’ll be more motivated to be successful next time.
Agnentis partners coach and support business leaders in their own development, helping them bring out the best in themselves. Get in contact for further information on this high-touch support.
