Today I wanted to share with you all some insight into why you truly need to invest in developing your teams with leadership training. The modern leader needs to wear many different hats and also has to be able to recognize the hats being worn by those being lead. Every leader has different strategies to create a successful outcome, but the best thing a leader can do is learn how to create a successful outcome in any situation with an arsenal of different strategies!
SKILL BUILDING THROUGH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
By participating in multiple leadership development and training programs, a leader acquires an assortment of different skills to overcome hard decisions and to lead many different types of people. Unfortunately, when many reach a leadership or executive position, they feel it’s unnecessary to participate in learning and development programs because after all they’re at the “top” so in hindsight they can’t go any higher or become any better right? WRONG!
A large part of being a successful leader is being able to demonstrate that not only do you care about the success of each individual team member, but that you personally aim to move forward and to learn as many different ways as you can to ensure the success of everyone. Those with large egos that disregard the ideas and opinions of those they lead often find it difficult or entirely impossible to retain valuable team members and as a result don’t earn their respect. Respect and leadership go hand in hand. If both leader and follower have mutual respect for each other, great things can be accomplished but if one doesn’t feel heard, valued, or recognized then information silos start to form, disengagement increases and overall decisions and strategies are implemented without the consideration of the leader.
THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION IN LEADERSHIP
As a leader it’s important to understand that you must be viewed as a positive presence in the eyes of those you lead. Successful leaders create culture and enhance the skills, attitudes, and behaviors of an organization as a whole. They motivate, inspire, engage, and guide. Part of creating a successful culture change is by demonstrating that although your skills may warrant you above a certain task or responsibility, you still assist others in those tasks and responsibilities and reaching the end goal. Communicate with those at the bottom to clarify your view from the top. By doing so, those you lead will recognize your will to work together and move forward. As a result, the amount of trust and respect gained will be extraordinary.
BUILDING COMMUNICATION SKILLS THROUGH LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Through leadership training, you learn how to communicate in a more collaborative manner that clarifies expectations, outlines responsibilities, and recognizes success. Communication is key because you want to be open, inviting, and willing, but it’s just as important to remain firm and to demonstrate at the end of the day you are the leader. In order to make decisions and take ownership without coming off as harsh or aggressive, a leader has to acknowledge a job well done in themselves and the team and recognize success on a frequent and regular basis. It’s all too common in many workplaces for an employee to feel undervalued and then incredibly stressed when blamed for incomplete work, mistakes, miscommunications, etc.ENHANCING INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS IN THE WORKPLACE
Through leadership training, a leader learns how to balance trust and discipline by making yourself available across all projects and team members equally. With enhanced communication skills a leader is then able to recognize and praise the success of team members which allows them to feel easier when communicating questions, ideas, and opinions.
LEARNING PROACTIVE PLANNING THROUGH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Team leaders must be forward thinking in their organization, being proactive and sustaining. Once a foundation has been laid down, it’s time to build and develop your team members just as you would yourself. You can have the nicest smile in the world, the firmest hand shake, and be very charming but that only defines how you lead externally. A great leader is able to extrinsically inspire and motivate those that need it, while recognizing and appreciating the indispensable value of those that are intrinsically motivated. With leadership training, a leader is better able to recognize in what ways team members are motivated to do their best. Recognition and shared success is what drives the momentum of your team, so it’s important as a leader to facilitate that in as many ways as possible.
INVEST IN YOUR LEADERS WITH LEARN2 LEADERSHIP TRAINING
With leadership training, a leader is better able to identify their strengths and weaknesses, develop new skills, improve communication, and are able to enhance the overall effectiveness of teams being lead. As a leader continues to learn and grow, so does the team they lead so make it a priority to enhance your skills so you can enhance the skills of others.
