Great Leaders! I have been fortunate enough to be exposed to some world-class leadership training over the years. From 1978 as an excited 18-year-old working as a Metropolitan Police Officer, to a leadership mentoring course at the world renowned Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in 2002.
Leadership is a dynamic art that requires a unique set of skills and qualities. Great leaders inspire, motivate, and guide their teams towards success. However, amidst the multitude of leadership advice and strategies, it’s equally important to understand what great leaders never say or do. Here are just a few (as a leader) you should NEVER get caught saying or doing!
“It’s not my responsibility” Take ownership, never be afraid to roll up your sleeves. Understand that leadership means being accountable and stepping up when needed. Inspire your teams by leading by example and demonstrate that success is a collective effort.
“I know it all” Foster an environment of continuous learning and growth. Understand that wisdom comes from embracing diverse perspectives and ideas. Great leaders remain humble, acknowledging that they don’t have all the answers, and are open to learning from their team members too.
Ignoring feedback. One trait that sets apart exceptional leaders is their willingness to listen to feedback. They actively seek input from their team members and value their opinions. By creating a culture of open communication, they foster trust and create a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas.
Micromanaging. Trust your team members’ capabilities and give them the freedom to excel in their roles. Micromanaging stifles creativity and growth. Provide guidance and support while giving your team members the autonomy to achieve results.
“That’s just not possible” Never dismiss ideas outright without exploring their potential. Instead, encourage innovation, foster a culture of creativity, and believe that any goal can be achieved with the right mindset and effort.
Poor communicator. We live in the digital and information age, with multiple tools and methods for communication. The best leaders realise the value and benefit is studying to become better in their method, timing and appropriateness of their communication. This starts with what they SEE, HEAR and FEEL, not what they say.
Remember, these insights only scratch the surface of what it takes to be an exceptional leader. To dive deeper into the fascinating world of leadership check out the resources via 121 mentoring, the group training and e-learning courses on our Leadership website here. Get yourself across to our dedicated leadership website at LEARNING2LEAD.CO.UK