Tips, techniques and strategies are so important to learning and honing our skills, especially to increase our confidence while leading and managing and REDUCING our stress at the exact same time.
With that in mind, I was to share a terrific article from Entrepreneur Magazine that discusses the top ten (10) tips for upping your leadership game – I want to also add the icing on the cake where you can also increase your confidence and reduce stress equally and immediately.
By Carly Okyle Editor
“Let’s be honest. Being a great leader ain’t easy. As in an effective, inspiring, CONFIDENT (stressless), and well-respected leader for your company.”
The good news is that we’ve compiled this list of awesome, actionable leadership tips that will have you running yourself, your team and your business responsibilities …like a boss — a good one. Some are relatively basic but are important reminders. Others, well, perhaps you’ve never considered before.
Consider these tips when upping your leadership game:
1. Lead by example.
Leaders need to show, not just tell. If you want your employees to be punctual, make sure you’re there on time — or even early. If professionalism is a priority, make sure you’re dressed for success, and treat everyone you interact with (both in-person and online) with courtesy. Set the tone and your employees will follow it.
NMA CONFIDENCE Tip: Dressing for success does not have to be expensive. Find some pieces, whether a great tie or scarf that you LIKE and wear it.
STESS Reducing Tip: Put your clothes out the evening before and make sure they are ready to be worn – early morning decisions for what to wear sometimes are just bad decisions.
2. A little humility goes a long way.
There’s a difference between a leader and a boss. While both are in charge, a leader shares the spotlight and is comfortable crediting others. While it might seem counterintuitive, being humble takes more confidence than basking in glory. Your employees will appreciate it, and your clients will, too.
NMA CONFIDENCE Tip: When you easily allow others to be complimented and get credit for their work, you will just feel good about sharing the limelight. It also helps to grow the performance of those that are being recognized.
STRESS Reducing Tip: Make sure that your words are simple when congratulating others. Unless you use quotes, personal language will allow you to feel most comfortable about your speaking.
3. Communicate effectively.
Effective communication is imperative, both in the office and in life. Great leaders make sure they are heard and understood, but they also know the importance of listening. Communication is a two-way street, and making the most of it will have your team and organization zooming forward instead of pumping the breaks.
NMA CONFIDENCE Tip: Really consider the outcome that you want from your communication and what results you want to create. Outcome based thinking will always improve how you communicate and listen.
STRESS Reducing Tip: Write up what you want to say and share and keep notes close to you. That will keep you on track and clear.
4. Keep meetings productive.
As the saying goes, time is money. So, of course, you should want to limit tangents and other time wasters during meetings. If you trust your team to do their job, there should be no need for micromanaging, and meetings can run swiftly.
NMA CONFIDENCE Tip: Always have an agenda for your meetings, no matter how long or short. And a pre-sent agenda before the meeting will let people know what to be prepared for and will give the impression you are in charge.
STRESS Reducing Tip: Review the agenda, print the agenda and make notes of the outcomes you want from each item on the agenda.
5. Know your limits.
Even the kindest, most caring leader has limits. Set your boundaries and stick to them. Knowing what you will not tolerate can save everyone in the office a lot of frustration, and keeping boundaries clear means there’s no confusion.
NMA CONFIDENCE Tip: Review regularly what is working and what is not working and make sure you know why.
STRESS Reducing Tip: When the conversations or situations get tough, pause. Breathing and pausing is always a great method of slowing down the issues.
6. Find a mentor.
No man (or woman) is an island, as they say. The best leaders out there know when they need help, and they know where to turn to in order to get it. Nobody can know everything, so finding someone you trust for advice when things get tough can make all of the difference.
NMA CONFIDENCE Tip: There are mentors everywhere and you probably know someone you admire a great deal. Call them up and invite them for coffee. Then ask them what their success secrets are.
STRESS Reducing Tip: Before you meet with anyone you admire, write down their most valuable qualities to you and then ask them about them. The list will help you forget you are nervous and put you in touch with what you value most.
7. Be emotionally aware.
While many people advise keeping emotions separate from matters of business, business is ultimately about relationships between people. To make these relationships last, you need to be emotionally intelligent — to be sensitive to different points of view and different backgrounds. When using your head to do what’s best for your company, don’t forget to have a heart.
NMA CONFIDENCE Tip: Stories can be the best way to share emotions without being openly emotionally. Find one or two stories you would be willing to share.
STRESS Reducing Tip: Make a list of all the best things that your ultimately care about. Reading that list will keep you in touch with what is most important to you and will allow people to know they have access to you.
8. Watch out for (and avoid) common pitfalls of leadership.
Everyone makes mistakes, but some of them are avoidable. Being aware of common mistakes, while not focusing on them to the point that they become self-fulfilling prophecies, can be the first step toward not repeating them.
NMA CONFIDENCE Tip: Read, read, read about those people who lead well. Biographies of leaders will help. They reveal the good and the mistakes so you can know that these people are real, they care, they make mistakes, and create successful results by learning from those mistakes.
STRESS Reducing Tip: Make time each week for reading about other leaders. The internet is loaded with stories that can teach, support and give you hope. Take your precious time, a cup of something, relax and read (or listen via audio books or videos).
9. Learn from the past.
To once again quote an adage, those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. History, recent and otherwise, is filled with examples of successful business models and spectacular business failures. Think about what the people you admire do well, and consider what went wrong for those who end their careers mired in scandal or disgrace. Lessons can be found everywhere.
NMA CONFIDENCE Tip: All you need to do to avoid the mistakes from the day is to listen to the news and then evaluate whether you agree; would do differently; what the lesson is; how would you use this to work best for you in your leading and creating successful results. Thomas Jefferson said that reviewing your day, each day, will create brilliance and knowledge. Self-review is not only powerful, but immediately valuable.
STRESS Reducing Tip: If you find something you do not like about your work; relationships; family; self – then review it immediately and breathe through what was not good, why it is not working for you. The old “nip it in the bud” saying is ultimately so accurate. Stop doing what does not work!!
10. Never stop improving.
Great leaders — indeed, great people — are constantly learning and always trying to improve themselves. There’s always something that you can work on or a new skill to master. Be sure to keep your mind open to new ideas and possibilities.
NMA CONFIDENCE Tip: Do not overwhelm yourself with learning, but do not underwhelm yourself with not doing anything; waiting until you have time (how is that working for you); until the situation happens. Learn, learn, learn. You have so many resources. Do not use all of them, use the ones that you value and like and enjoy. This is about improving and honing your already terrific skills. You are so allowed to enjoy the learning!!!!!
STRESS Reducing Tip: Your breath is the most important body function you have. Use it. Breathe deeply, often. Feeling filled with oxygen will let your body know everything is good and possible. Let your body be a part of your leadership success.
These tips, techniques and strategies are simple reminders that you can create positive, successful results faster than you ever thought possible.
Blessings and love and knowing you can do this!!!
Natalie
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