Have you ever worked for a leader who has left such a strong impression on you that you continue to think about the time under his leadership to this day?
The reason for this is probably due to the way he made you feel. Ultimately, true leadership is in building positive relationships and connections. This is not an easy task even for experienced professionals.
With that in mind, do you consider yourself a leader? To assess your capacity as a leader and assess whether you are suitable for this role, you need to answer three simple questions with “yes” or “no”:
Do you try to understand the views of others?
At a time when we communicate mainly through computer devices and without physical contact, the ability to put ourselves in the place of others and respect their views, not just our own, is more important than ever. We often view other people’s ideas as good as our own, and we tend to make hasty decisions without taking our views into account. Slow down and make a focused effort to become more familiar with the specific work of your employees and their needs and problems. As you develop empathy, you will begin to see obstacles in front of your subordinates and be able to resolve them promptly so that they present themselves in the best possible way.
Do you give guidance and advice to the people you lead?
Numerous leadership studies have concluded that to be truly effective as a leader, you need to focus on the well-being of the people you lead. In other words, present the company’s mission, set clear goals and expectations, and be consistent in your instructions. When the future is uncertain, many employees seek advice, guidance, and reassurance from their superiors. At this point, you need to ask your employees, “How can I help you right now?”, “What obstacles are you facing right now?” And “What questions do you need to be answered?”
Do you accept feedback, especially one you don’t want to hear?
Many people in leadership positions see feedback as a threat to their authority, power, and position. This is the reason why they are reluctant to look at the feedback and react negatively to views that do not match theirs. To be truly effective leaders, you need to see feedback as a tool to help you do your job better and serve your subordinates better. Even in cases where the feedback is negative, the leader needs to pay attention to it and think about what he can do so that the problems are resolved and do not happen again in the future.
