Become a Creative Leader (Management Tips– #3-082916)

Yesterday’s leadership skills will not work in today’s fast-moving and evolving world. Only creative leaders who are visionary and empathetic will succeed. Here are five things you can do to succeed as a creative leader:

• Instead of commanding, coach your team and organization toward success.

• Don’t manage people; facilitate them. Often, the know-how, experience, and solutions are there; help people to discover them.

• Cultivate respect by giving it, instead of demanding it.

• Know how to manage both success and failure, not just success.

• Be gracious. Be humble about your successes and, whenever possible, give someone else the opportunity to shine.

Lead Confidently

Confidence is a key ingredient in leading effectively. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s easier to know your weaknesses than your strengths. Ask yourself these two questions to help find your self-confidence:

• What do you do well? Make a list of your strengths. These items are not the same as the accomplishments on your resume; they are what made those accomplishments possible. How will your strengths lead you to future success?

• Why should people follow you? Look at situations where you mobilized yourself and your team to face a particularly tough challenge. Why did people believe in your ability to get things done and trust that you were the one to follow?

Master the Fundamentals

There are countless opinions on how to be an effective leader, but it’s important not to forget the basics. Here are five rules for mastering the fundamentals of leadership:

• Shape the future. Articulate where your company or division is going and be sure everyone around you understands the direction.

• Make things happen. Once you know where you’re headed, focus on how. Again, be sure all of your people know what executing will take.

• Engage today’s talent. Make the most of your people; engage and inspire them to do their best.

• Build tomorrow’s talent. Find and build the talent you need for future success.

• Invest in yourself. You can never be a perfect leader; find ways to continually build your skills and become better.

Keep It Simple

Every generation of leaders thinks it’s facing a new set of challenges that require new models of leadership. But being an effective manager is not about mastering mysterious and complicated methods. It’s about keeping it simple and following old, proven, and even obvious ideas. What made a good leader in the past is still what makes one today: being competent, caring, and benevolent. Before you discard this old model in exchange for the latest reinvention of management, take a close look at the new method. Often it’s the same message in a new package.

Avoid the Tendencies of Bad Bosses

Being the boss is hard, especially when you need to counter the natural tendencies that separate you from the people you manage. Recognizing these tendencies can help you avoid them. Here are the top three to watch out for:

• Self-delusion. Not only do bosses have this tendency; the majority of people estimate their skills to be higher than they are in reality. Be aware that you might be self- aggrandizing and find ways to get input and evaluations that show you your true skills.

• Heedlessness. Those in positions of power are watched carefully by the people below them. But that level of attention is often not reciprocated. When you become the head honcho, don’t forget to remain curious about and engaged with your direct reports.

• Insulation. No one wants to deliver bad news to the boss, so the boss often doesn’t know the full story. Create a culture in which the messenger isn’t shot, but is lauded for bringing important information forward.