8 Critical Things Every Great Leader Remembers
It's hard to remember everything
when you're busy. But here are eight things a great leader never forgets.
If you are a leader it helps to have
a great memory. You have to keep tons of concepts and
data in your head so you can constantly analyze and act on strategy and
operations. Executing big ideas well requires a big brain and focused recall on
the fly. But don't discount the small acts of memory that every leader should
use to daily.
Aside from facts, figures and
policy, great leaders make a priority of remembering the soft elements
that help their team grow and perform at their best. Great leaders don't save
human reflection for special occasions. They keep these thoughts in mind all
the time to keep their teams happy and productive.
1. Remember to offer kindness.
Cruel comments, sarcasm and harsh
criticism never make anyone's day better. And being ignored can come off as the
worst sort of mean. Being mindful of others' feelings is critical for a great
leader to build a productive environment. The team will build a culture that
follows the leader's demeanor. Treated them with care and consideration, even
when they screw up. Then they will remember to do the same.
2. Remember to offer respect.
People on the team need to feel that
you value their skills and knowledge. If you treat them like children, they
will act like children, or worse. Great leaders remember to
let their teams know they are valued, because words, tone and gestures will
show it. Everyone from the cleaning person to the top executive deserves
certain basic courtesies, including a cordial greeting, a present moment
of your attention and the acknowledgement of their efforts.
3. Remember to offer patience.
Great leaders maintain
their own sanity and that of others by managing impatience, especially their
own. This is the era of instant gratification, and most people want things done
as quickly as possible. But an immediate response or solution is not always
available. Recognize that many aspects of a project will take time to develop,
or that an answer may take 24 hours or more to find. Set an agreed upon plan
with reasonable expectations even when pressured. It's ok to stay in touch
while waiting, but avoid pestering others, berating them or getting in the way.
4. Remember to offer humor.
When all else fails, we have laughter.
Laughing can relieve a lot of tension and do a great deal to help people who
are ready to give up. People value leaders who can make the negatives
seem less daunting with a joke. Laughter is not a substitute for persistence
and hard work, of course. But the judicious use of humor can do a lot to put
things in perspective. Oh yeah, and lots of humor makes work more fun as well.
5. Remember to offer truth.
No one is served by quiet
politeness, or outright lies. It's hard to hear the truth sometimes
especially when you are emotionally invested in a project that is off track.
But great leaders know how to deliver truth in a straightforward way that helps
people move forward. You can be frank without being mean, petty or harsh. And
the detriments of avoidable failure due to silence or candy coating far
outweigh the harshness and pain of learning the truth.
6. Remember to offer encouragement.
Nothing saps energy like the feeling
of being lost or out of options. When people are running out of energy or
feeling down, great leaders take notice and remember how to get people back on
track. You can describe what you like/admire about them. Remind them of the
strengths and skills they can bring to the table. If cheerleading isn't
enough, roll up your sleeves and get into problem solving with them.
7. Remember to offer gratitude.
People feed on acknowledgement.
Just saying "thank you" when someone holds the door can affirm that
positive behavior. And when you hold the door yourself...it tells the other
person that you value them and want to meet their needs. Great leaders remember
to be grateful for the efforts others make on their behalf. Be watching for
opportunities to do small, thoughtful things for others that demonstrate how
much you appreciate their efforts.
8. Remember to offer hope.
When times seem harsh and bleak,
great leaders remember that they are great leaders and it is their
responsibility to offer the path forward. During the worst times, people
want to believe that life will get better, that everything will improve,
and that growth/progress/success is in their grasp. Let people know that
you believe in them, that your expectations are high and that they should keep
trying.
