Are you a leader who is a good role model? Do you inspire your staff so they are engaged? Sometimes I meet managers in organisations who were once highly respected in their positions but seem to have lost their edge. Their employees see them as giving false promises. They over-commit and then make excuses for not delivering.
It is vital you scrutinise your management style on a regular basis and ask yourself questions about where you are going. Once your staff stop respecting you, trust disappears and your integrity is lost. Before you get to this stage I can help you. I'll focus on specific questions to prompt self-analysis.
- Are you consistent in keeping agreements, and, if not, why not?
- Can you be relied upon to follow through when you commit to something?
- Do you maintain regular communication with your staff?
- Do you make promises you either can't or don't intend to keep?
- Are you ready to apologise if you miss a deadline?
- Are you continually blaming others and making excuses for yourself?
It's not easy to hold a mirror up to see how you are behaving and to become aware of any failings. One of the tools I use, besides any psychological analysis of the manager, is to perform a 360 degree assessment with your key colleagues on your leadership style. This should not be seen as a threat to you, but as providing valuable pointers to help build up your reputation and leadership style.
One of the best things you can do is to be entirely honest with your staff. If you are not able to make a deadline, say so. Perhaps you should be looking at your time management skills. Maybe you should start delegating some tasks. Tell your employee that you will support them in the assigned work, but you need them to step up if you are to deliver on time. You'll be surprised how much it frees you up, but also how the employee rises to the challenge.
It's important to acknowledge that changing your habits may take time, but will yield good results. Try looking at your challenges in a different way, as there may be an easier approach you previously discounted.
Honest and open communication and the mutual sharing of information are indicators of a good leader. If you commit to something, then unforeseen circumstances arise which force you to deviate, tell your staff. If you play it straight you will avoid damaging work-place gossip and earn the respect of your employees.
Jesse Jackson once said, "Leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pain, and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving."
Start today to develop your leadership style.
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