Leading Self

  • Human Resources, Leadership, Leading Self

    Top 5 qualities of a better leader

    If you want to build a better business, you should be working on becoming a better leader.

    So, what qualities do better leaders have in common? Where should you start on your journey to becoming a better leader? Here are my top 5 suggestions.

    1. Build your personal brand

    To be a better leader, you need to understand who you are. If you stay true to your personal values, you’ll find it easier to be your authentic self at work. This, in turn, allows your team to understand what makes you tick – both at work and, to some degree, in your personal life – which will help to build trust.

    No-one is perfect and your team isn’t expecting you to be. Acknowledge your flaws and weaknesses and improve them to become a stronger, more confident leader. Being a better leader is about nurturing your team so they can be the best they can be – and this should start with yourself. Continual self-development and learning should be a part of your personal brand as a better leader.

    1. Build a culture of trust and transparency

    Trust is important in the workplace. According to the Harvard Business Review, people who work in a business with a culture of trust report “74% less stress, 106% more energy at work, 50% higher productivity, 13% fewer sick days, 76% more engagement, 29% more satisfaction with their lives, 40% less burnout”.

    Pretty impressive statistics!

    Your job as a better leader is to help cultivate trust in your business. Make sure that your people can trust you to keep your word, even if it’s not always the easiest option.

    It is also important to be transparent. Most people will appreciate you for telling it how it is, especially if you are also empathetic (another key quality of a better leader).

    And make sure your team are kept in the loop as much as possible. Communication is integral to this. See below for some tips on ensuring communication is not overlooked in your business.

    1. Better leaders cultivate Emotional Intelligence

    Emotional Intelligence at work is the art of understanding what motivates your team and how to get the best from them. You are aware of your emotions and can use them in a positive way to build your team up, resulting in a more productive, profitable organisation.

    Being aware of, and working on, the 5 elements of Emotional Intelligence as proposed by Daniel Goleman is a great place to start when it comes to becoming a better leader. These 5 elements are: ⁠Self Awareness⁠, Self Regulation⁠, Motivation⁠, Social Awareness⁠ and Relationship Management⁠.

    For a full explanation of Emotional Intelligence and how it relates to the workplace, read my blog on the topic here.

    1. Better leaders communicate, communicate, communicate

    If you consistently hear the phrases ‘I didn’t know about that’, or ‘Nobody told me’, chances are you need to up your communication game.

    Better leaders communicate with their entire business, not just other leaders.

    Internal communication tools can include:

    Staff newsletters – these are a great way to help communicate any changes in the organisation, break down barriers between colleagues and inform them of any social events.

    Teams – this Microsoft program is an easy way to bring people together. You can set up different channels for your different teams and it also allows for more informal interaction (using emojis and gifs, for example).

    Regular face-to-face meetings – be sure that any decisions made at the top level (that your team should be made aware of) are filtered down throughout the entire business. An effective way to do this is to have each leader or head of department hold their own team meeting to encourage two-way conversations with employees.

    1. Treat your people as individuals not robots

    In a world where we are becoming more isolated (thanks to many of us now working from home, social distancing and the like), the need for human connection is more important than ever.

    And, as many of us spend as much, or more, time at work as we do with our family, it’s important that we get that human connection in the workplace – whether it’s remotely or in an office.

    Not to mention that being treated as an individual is a simple matter of respect. Better leaders treat their people as individuals, not money-making machines. Emotional Intelligence and communication are key factors here.

    It’s about making someone feel valued at work. Those employees who feel heard, valued and understand that they are making a real difference to the business will stick around longer and be more motivated in their role.

    Plus, embracing individuality can help formulate new ideas – which just might boost your profitability.

    Now you’ve made a start on your leadership journey – why not continue? Speak to us about our leadership development training or executive coaching programs.

     

     

  • Leading Self

    Emotional Intelligence

    Your Emotional Intelligence or EQ is your ability to understand other people, what motivates them and how to work cooperatively with them. You have the ability to understand and use your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict.⁠
    ⁠
    Can you improve your EQ? Yes you can:⁠

    • By practicing how you react to people⁠
    • Observe how others react to situations⁠
    • Self reflection on your own emotions

    ⁠According to Daniel Goleman there are 5 key elements to EQ:⁠

    1. ⁠Self Awareness⁠
    2. Self Regulation⁠
    3. Motivation⁠
    4. Social Awareness⁠
    5. Relationship Management⁠

    Element #1: Self Awareness

    Over the years I’ve often heard… “he or she is just not self-aware”. Actually I’ve said it myself. Self Awareness is simply understanding how you feel, why you feel that way and how it impacts our behaviour. I say simple but it can be challenging for many. The good news it is something you can work on and develop.

    How can you develop self-awareness?
    Know what triggers your reactions to situations
    Reflect on how you respond to situations
    Think before you speak or act – give yourself time
    Understand what makes you happy

    Are there benefits? Absolutely
    You will become a better leader
    You will improve your happiness
    You will grow as a person
    You will have better relationships

    Element #2: Self-Regulation and Emotional Intelligence

    You’ve decided to do dry January and your friends invite you out for a drink. You decide to order a mocktail or non-alcoholic beer. This is an example of practicing self-regulation.

    Self regulation is the ability to manage your thoughts, emotions, behaviours and actions.

    There are 2 types of self-regulation:
    Behavioural self regulation – how you respond to situations
    Emotional self regulation – how you control your emotions

    People who practice self-regulation have the following traits. They are:

    • Self-aware
    • Persistent
    • Adaptable
    • Optimistic

    Can you develop or improve self-regulation? Absolutely!

    How?
    Educate yourself
    Practice self-awareness (see last week’s post)
    Be kind to yourself
    Exercise
    Seek feedback

    What are the benefits of self-regulation?
    A positive mindset
    Improved well-being
    Stress management
    More productive
    Stronger level of discipline to achieve goals

    Element #3: Motivation and Emotional Intelligence

    When discussing motivation as an element or skill of emotional intelligence, we are talking about intrinsic motivation. This means you are motivated by the act of doing something without any obvious external rewards like money. If you eat a chocolate – you are doing so for the joy of it. If you play tennis, you do it for the love of the game or for fun.

    Why is intrinsic motivation a key element? It simply drives performance. Motivated people and leaders consistently work towards achieving goals and have high expectations of themselves.

    Daniel Pink says “we are motivated by other forces: autonomy, mastery and purpose.” He defines these as:

    “Autonomy: This is the need to self-direct.
    Mastery: This is the intrinsic motivation to get better, to master a skill.
    Purpose: This is the ability to connect to a larger cause, the highest form of motivation”

    Can you develop intrinsic motivation? Absolutely!

    Ask yourself why you are doing what you are do.
    Do things you are passionate about.
    Do things that make a difference to others – do something for the greater good

    Element #4: Social Awareness

    Social awareness as an element or skill of emotional intelligence, means that you understand how you react to different social situations and effectively modify your interactions with other people so that you achieve the best results.

    According to Daniel Goleman the competencies associated with being socially aware are:

    Empathy: understanding the other person’s emotions, needs and concerns.

    Organizational Awareness: the ability to understand the politics within an organization and how these affect the people working in them.

    Service: the ability to understand and meet the needs of clients and customers.

    Can you develop your social awareness skills? Absolutely!

    How?
    Listen, listen, listen – generally this is a great skill to develop but quite important when it comes to social awareness.

    Repeat what is said to the person so that you are sure you heard what they intended to say.

    Pay attention to the person’s tone.

    Watch their body language.

    Place yourself in other’s shoes.

    Identify your own emotions.

    Reflect

    Element #5: Relationship Management

    Relationship Management as an element of EQ, means using your awareness of your own emotions and those of others to manage interactions successfully. Simply, it is about your interpersonal communication skills.
    ⁠
    This is the aspect of your emotional intelligence that enables you to succeed in inspiring other people and helping them to reach their full potential. It is also important in negotiating successfully, resolving conflicts and working with others toward a shared goal.
    ⁠
    According to Daniel Goleman the competencies associated with relationship management are:

    Influence: persuading others.
    Inspirational leadership: providing a vision that motivates others.
    Developing others: providing feedback and building skills and knowledge.
    Change catalyst: recognising the need for change and supporting the process.
    Conflict management: Settling disputes, differences of opinion and misunderstanding.
    Building bonds: creating and maintaining networks.
    Teamwork and collaboration: building effective teams.

    The stronger your emotional intelligence, the better you understand yourself which empowers you to make change happen.⁠

  • Leading Self

    I’m speaking…

    “I’m speaking”: How women can reclaim the conversation and speak our truth


    “I’m speaking”…     those words from Senator Kamala Harris packed a serious punch, resonating with so many women for all the wrong reasons.

    How many more times will women be talked over, mansplained or ignored by a male colleague?  We can probably all recall a time we have witnessed this same uncomfortable conversation play out in a boardroom but did that woman say “I’m speaking” like Kamala had the courage, grace and confidence to do? More often than not, she probably didn’t.

    There is something truly unsettling about seeing this familiar conversation play out during a vice presidential debate between, what should be considered, two equal opponents.

    Well, I’m speaking now and I want all women – and the men who support women – to remember this…. Stand Up, Step Up and Speak Up.

    Stand up

    To truly stand up means to call out bad or toxic behaviour as soon as you see it. It takes courage to stand up. Believe in yourself, be authentic and take a stand against those who bully, chastise and treat people badly.  Being courageous is tough, as I have no doubt when trying to stand up you will come across people who will try to push you down.

    Step up

    One small act of kindness, one small change in the way we listen or mentor other women, can make a real difference and have a significant impact on someone. When we step up to the conversation or situation, we are stepping up for the good of others.  I am particularly passionate about women stepping up to create networks that foster connection and personal growth.

    Speak up

    There are many reasons why women feel they cannot speak for themselves; some situations can be deeply personal and triggering. It’s up to the rest of us to speak up for them.  When we see a women being talked over, say it – ”she’s speaking”; when we see a man explaining a concept because he believes a women could not understand it, say “stop mansplaining”;  when you see a women wanting to make a point or statement and being ignored, say “let her speak”.

    The world needs more female leaders for true diversity and balance, for the economy and for future growth. So believe me when I say…I’m speaking to you. Please stand up, step up and speak up to make the world a better place.