8 Actions to Improve Your Leadership (Pick 4)

Presumably, you want to become a better leader. No leader worth following thinks they are flawless and beyond learning something new. Effective leaders never finish developing. They constantly seek ways to refine their approach.

Here are eight actions that can significantly enhance your leadership effectiveness. Select four that resonate with you and incorporate them into your leadership development plan.

1. Be Strategic: Set clear goals that provide direction and allow you to measure your progress and success. Anticipating challenges helps you mitigate risks and stay on track. Adapting plans demonstrates your responsiveness and ability to course-correct for better outcomes. It does not stop with having a compelling vision; you must create a roadmap with clearly defined goals. Break down your larger goals into smaller, measurable objectives. You can track your progress, identify potential roadblocks, and adapt your plan. For instance, set a target to increase customer satisfaction by 10% within the next quarter and track it through surveys or customer reviews.
2. Delegate and Trust: Delegating tasks frees up your time to focus on broader strategies and demonstrates your trust in your team members. This trust encourages ownership and accountability, leading to measurable improvement in desired outcomes. Micromanaging stifles creativity and innovation. Instead, delegate tasks that match your team members’ strengths and skill sets. When delegating, provide clear instructions and expected outcomes. Trust your team to make decisions and hold them accountable for the results. Begin to track task completion times, project quality, and team member ownership through metrics like on-time delivery rates and team member surveys.
3. Effective communication is a cornerstone of leadership. Ensure your team understands the goals, expectations, deadlines, and the “why” behind your initiatives. Share relevant information openly and encourage questions. The impact of clear communication can be measured by the time spent resolving communication gaps and the overall efficiency of projects. By encouraging open communication, you can enhance your team’s understanding, engagement, and performance.
4. Provide Feedback and Recognition: Effective leaders know that feedback is a two-way street. Offer constructive criticism to help team members identify areas for improvement and celebrate successes to reinforce positive behaviors. Schedule regular one-on-one meetings for personalized feedback. Implement a system for recognizing achievements, both big and small. Track individual and team performance metrics to quantify the impact of your feedback and recognition efforts. Look for improvements in personal skill development and overall team morale.
5. Actively Listen and Seek Feedback: Regularly soliciting feedback allows you to identify areas for improvement in your leadership style and team dynamics. Active listening helps you understand individual needs and concerns. Make time for regular discussions and actively solicit feedback. Begin to track changes in team surveys and employee engagement metrics to measure the impact of your active listening and feedback efforts.
6. Build Relationships: Strong relationships create trust and belonging within the team, leading to better collaboration, improved communication, and a more successful team effort. Building solid relationships with your team members is a way to build a sense of community and shared purpose. Take an interest in their lives, celebrate their individual successes, and be there to support them through challenges. Track the impact of strong relationships through metrics like team collaboration scores and project communication efficiency.
7. Practice Continuous Learning and Growth: The leader who constantly learns new skills and approaches stays relevant and adaptable and experiences personal growth. This ongoing development equips you to make better decisions based on current knowledge and trends. Commit to continuous learning by attending workshops, reading leadership books, and participating in industry events. Encourage your team members to do the same. Track your team’s knowledge growth through training completion rates and measure the impact of new skills on project outcomes.
8. Lead by Example: Build accountability, integrity, and excellence. Your actions speak louder than words. Live by the values you expect from your team. When your team sees you walking the walk, they’re more likely to follow suit. Track the impact of your leadership by example through employee satisfaction surveys and team culture assessments. Look for improvements in accountability metrics and a stronger sense of purpose within the team.

Which four of these eight ideas will you begin to improve? Make your goals concrete by answering, “By how much?” with a number. Set a date for each action so you know “by when?” and can adjust as needed.

Consider including a mix of focus on yourself (feedback) and your team (delegation).

• Be realistic: Set achievable goals and timelines for improvement.
• Track your progress: Monitor your metrics to see what’s working and what needs adjusting.
• Seek support: Talk to mentors or colleagues for feedback on your leadership style.

By putting this into action, you can take significant strides towards becoming a more effective leader.