A good leader can be the difference between a flourishing business and a floundering one. Leaders help to guide the company and its people to success by creating a supportive and productive work environment.
There are many important leadership and management skills that great leaders possess, as well as many different leadership styles. As leadership and management is largely people-focused, the greatest asset a leader can have is adaptability and taking a personalised approach to managing their team members. By recognising individual strengths and talents, you will get the greatest results out of your team.
3 important leadership roles
While there are many important leadership qualities and skills, three of the most vital roles of an effective leader are:
- Visionary
Being a visionary is more than building business goals. Great leaders will be able to align the success of the business with the success of its people. It all comes down to effective communication and transparency.
People won’t be inclined to participate in a common effort if they aren’t involved and included in the goals of the business. Clearly communicating the “vision” and showing how each individual role contributes to success will demonstrate to the team that they are valued. People that feel valued are much more likely to be productive and loyal to the business.
- Motivator & Mentor
A key part of being an effective leader is motivating and mentoring your team members. Leaders are nothing without their team, and great leaders support and guide their team to achieve success and satisfaction in their roles.
As a motivator and mentor, leaders move beyond telling and fixing and into coaching, supporting, and building capability in others. When the team feels supported to exceed, rather than micromanaged, it is much more likely to inspire innovation and commitment. Some simple ways to do this is to be open about mistakes you have made and what you learnt, listening to their feedback and concerns, and being available to them when needed.
- Strategist
A crucial part of leadership is having a big picture view of the business and its path to success. Effective leaders will be able to translate vision into results, and do so by creating a strategic plan and a system that empowers people.
All leaders have to think strategically to get the most out of their team, whether that’s identifying strengths and capacity for growth or delegating effectively. While being strategic, it’s important for leaders and managers to be transparent and open to change. By using critical thinking and decision making skills, leaders can keep everyone on track, even when things don’t go to plan or obstacles get in the way.
How to develop your leadership skills
No one is born a leader. While some people possess qualities that help them to be effective leaders, like good listening skills or critical thinking, there are plenty of ways that you can learn and develop your skills.
Continual development is important not only for achieving career growth, but also positively demonstrating to team members that everyone has room for improvement. Committing to learning and development is a great way to lead by example.
Here’s three ways that you can develop your skills:
Take an online leadership and management course
A good online leadership and management course will teach you concepts and strategies for effective leadership while also showing you how to practically implement them in a work setting. The BSB50420 Diploma of Leadership and Management for example teaches you practical skills like developing and using emotional intelligence, communicating with influence, and managing business operational plans.
Online courses allow you to fit learning into your schedule, which is particularly important if you want to advance in your current career or company. The added bonus of receiving a recognised qualification means that your skills will be formalised and recognised no matter where you work in Australia or what position you progress to.
Find out more about our leadership and management courses here.
Pursue learning opportunities and gain experience
It’s important to pursue opportunities that allow you to practice leadership skills, whether at work or outside a work setting. Gaining more experience in leading a team will let you put what you’ve learnt into practice and see what is effective or not.
It might include taking on more responsibility at work, actively seeking a mentor or being taught by another leader, or getting involved in leading something outside of work. Everything will contribute to a greater understanding and confidence for leading effectively.
Ask for feedback from your team
One part of listening to your team is also being open to their feedback. It’s important to understand what leadership methods work and which ones don’t. Not only can it open your eyes to ideas or strategies that you hadn’t thought of, it’s also important for fostering trust and commitment with team members. Don’t be afraid of feedback, instead create opportunities for your team to provide it and be transparent about how that feedback will change your leadership or the business.
Have any questions about our online leadership and management courses and how they can help you develop your skills? Get in touch with our friendly team today!
