How To Become a More Inspiring Leader

All business owners and executives want to be good leaders. They strive to be the type of leader that can foster confidence and cultivate trust in their employees. But leadership can sometimes mean different things for different people. So what exactly does leadership mean to you?

A strong, capable leader manages employees in such a way that they are inspired to work with and for them. They generate a culture and environment conduscive to disruption, innovation and improvement. Under the proper leadership, people work hard and do it happily because they believe in the company or team vision. A happy and engaged workforce is a productive one, but only 30% of employees feel engaged and inspired by their careers worldwide. [1] But while we all have our own brand of leadership, there is always room for improvement. Here are a few tips for connecting with your employees even better:

Lead by example

It may sound cliché, but the adage endures because it has merit. If a policy, procedure, activity or event doesn’t have executive buy in, it’s much more likely to fail. If you want your employees to be engaged, you need to be engaged. Roll up your sleeves and show your employees that you believe in what you’re asking them to do.

Different people need different things

When it comes to people, a one size fits all approach never works. On any team and in any company, there will be a variety of different personalities, learning styles and work styles. So understand the people who you work with and set clear, achievable goals to inspire them on an individual level.

Keep your promises

Nothing torpedoes trust more than promising on things that you don’t ultimately deliver. No one’s perfect, but if you tell your employees that you will or will not do something, you should follow through wherever possible. Consistency is a great leadership trait.

Communicate clearly

We all know that communication is of the utmost important in a leadership role, but it never hurts to take a step back and reassess your communication methods. Are you clearly relaying your goals and expectations? Are you keeping your employees informed of team and company statuses and updates? Are you deliver constructive, straightforward feedback? 

Get involved in the hiring process

CGS President and CEO, Phil Friedman, shared some advice that he has learned over the course of his career with Fortune. He believes that executives should be involved in hiring the right people. Getting to know a candidate during the interview process as well as outside of office walls is an invaluable opportunity to look beyond the resume to determine whether or not this person will be right fit for your company and culture. ^[2]

Let them know you have their back!

Employees who feel supported are more likely to go the distance. So celebrate individual and team accomplishments and achievements with recognition and social events, both in and outside of the office.

Every leader has room for improvement and being a better leader can have a profound effect across the entire organization. And while the path to becoming a more inspirational leader who can cultivate hard work and innovation may vary across industries, these key principles and tips amount to a solid step in the right direction.

What did you think of these leadership tips? Tell us how you inspire your employees in the comments below!

Written by CGS Sales Conference 2015 Team Boardwalk:

Paul Sanderson
Ken Carson
Carlos Fonseca
Patricio Hube
Jim Falino
Giri Pasad Reddy
Bill McCready
Missy Chaiet
Liviu Pandrea
Peter Kalotschke
Susan Sweeney
Nicolas Kokaly
Nicoleta Ursu
Phil DePasquale

References