Leaders possess capabilities that can inspire others to become their best, something that business owners eagerly seek in the people they employ. When you recognize leadership qualities in your workforce, you can’t afford to let them get away. Always be looking to identify leadership skills within potential hires to ensure they build a strong base that can drive the organization forward. These skills include the ability to motivate staff and drive innovation, while doing so with a sense of integrity, transparency, and diplomacy.
A great way to gain insight on whether someone is more of a boss or a leader is to do your homework during the hiring process. Additionally, calling some of the candidate’s references can give you an idea of whether the person was highly regarded for their leadership capabilities in their previous position. The length of their relationship can also provide insight.
When candidates portray admirable leadership qualities in the interview process, appointing them to supervisory roles can help motivate your other staff members to perform well or seek to become leaders in their own right. How do you ensure you have leaders who inspire instead of bosses who discourage? Here are a few suggestions:
1. Leaders avoid micromanaging and consider others their equals
The best managers view their relationship as more of a partnership, rather than a one-way street where the manager directs and workers perform. Additionally, leaders give their staff autonomy, adopting a more “hands-off” approach to management. Employees enjoy working with leaders who they don’t consider to be a micromanager.
2. Leaders take a genuine interest in their team members
Employees have lives beyond the office, spending their time with family, friends, or activities within their community. Leaders get to know their team on an individual basis, forming a more personal relationship while at the same time learning about qualities that can contribute to the growth of the business. These include expertise that isn’t currently being utilized, or traits such as patience or perseverance that would lend themselves well on a special project. Knowing someone as an individual fosters trust and encourages people to give it their all.
3. Leaders prioritize relationships and results
Managers in leadership positions are responsible for ensuring work is completed effectively so growth never ceases. Overbearing bosses may still be able to achieve solid results, but it may produce diminishing returns if employees are at their wits’ end. Leaders recognize the value of relationships. They prioritize finding solutions to issues that may be troubling workers and ultimately impeding their work output. Leaders also put greater emphasis on results that are achieved through demanding yet reasonable processes rather than processes that are tedious and unnecessarily taxing.
Whether it comes naturally or develops over time, leadership is an indispensable asset that can help your business reach its goals. Fostering strong leadership and leveraging it to drive the organization forward can be the difference between a run-of-the-mill operation and a truly extraordinary one.