At first thought, maybe the terms “manager” and “leader” seem the same, but in reality, they are quite different. In the workforce, it’s much better to be a leader for your team, guiding them to success, rather than a manager who just gives orders or supervises without a greater purpose. For the purpose of this article, we are discussing how you can become a more impactful manager by embodying the qualities of a true leader.
Follow These 4 Tips to Be a Great Leader
Be a Good Listener
A leader listens to all the members of their team to hear about conflicts, successes, and everything in between. Where a manager may only ask for information from a few trusted employees, a leader knows that each employee can offer valuable perspectives.
By listening to every team member, a leader can hear about issues before anything becomes too big and unmanageable. They will also be in a great position to positively impact worker performance and productivity.
Encourage Self-Awareness
It’s important for a leader to understand that their team members vary in how they will process information. While some people like to discuss ideas openly, others will like to communicate them in a private meeting or email. If bad news is delivered, some workers might want a walk to process the information, while others might want to chat quickly with a friend.
Along the same lines, team events should appeal to both types of employees. Bigger gatherings with fun icebreakers are great, but make sure to have some quieter mellow team-building events as well so everyone feels comfortable to connect.
Seek Collaborative Solutions
Unfortunately, a manager tends to think that he or she knows it all. A leader, however, knows that’s not the case. A good leader will seek to collaborate with team members on a variety of occasions, especially if they don’t know the right answer or solution to an issue.
Show Support
It’s important for a leader to be actively involved with their team. Workers can see that their leaders support them if they are working alongside them, truly engaged.
In addition, while a traditional manager might pass along blame, a leader understands that they are always held accountable because of their leadership role. This means that a leader is ready and willing to share both the ups and downs of projects and tasks.
Be the Leader Your Team Needs
For more advice on how to become a better leader rather than a manager, or to find qualified talent for your team, contact Axiom Staffing Group.
