Formal professional football player Junior Seau said, “Leadership can’t be fabricated. If it is fabricated and rehearsed, you can’t fool the guys in the locker room. So when you talk about leadership, it comes with performance. Leadership comes with consistency.”
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Leadership is a dynamic sport. You have to remain sharp, active, and consistent if you want to win the game of leadership. Great leaders concentrate on and consistently do certain things within their leadership role. As a result of focusing on those certain things, they see a higher amount of productivity, effectiveness, and desired results.
You can achieve those same benefits when you consistently do these 5 things:
1. Inspire Other People
Kobe Bryant said, “The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.”
The first step of inspiring people is to set the example by being an inspiring leader. Always remember inspiration is contagious. Have your actions and behavior reflect someone who is purpose-driven, optimistic, passionate, and positive. Stand tall with confidence and self-belief. Let your example encourage and inspire those around you to become and do more.
The second step is about what you speak. What you speak to your people has tremendous power and when you speak the right kind of words, it will inspire your people to perform at a higher level. You should intentionally speak kind, encouraging, and motivational words to those you lead. Find the good in people and their work then lets them know about it.
2. Build and Maintain Relationships
Leaders must invest time in building and maintain professional relationships with their people.
One of the best ways to do this is being present. Being present requires leaving your office to walk around and be where your people are at. When you are around your people you will be able to connect, get to know, and build a strong rapport with them. Investing time building relationships shows your people you care about, value, and respect them.
Relationships take a lot of upfront time and energy to establish but the benefit is priceless.
3. Train Your Team
Great leader consistently trains their people.
Fred A. Manske Jr. said, “The greatest leader is willing to train people and develop them to the point that they eventually surpass him or her in knowledge and ability.”
Training allows your people to stay sharp, competent, and prepared for future challenges. Leaders have to create a growth environment where their people understand growth and development are expected and required.
You can begin to create a growth environment by giving relevant resources, offering coaching and mentorship, providing time for your people to attend conferences and workshops, and offering on the job training. When you consistently provide these types of things to your people, they will be fully trained and equipped.
4. Properly Manage
There are two sides of leadership, the front end, and the back end. The front end is the leading side and the back end is the managing and administration side.
Warren Bennis said, “The manager has his eye on the bottom line; the leader has his eye on the horizon.” Great leaders have both leadership and management skills. You will spend most of your time on the front end side, leading and directing your people toward the group or organizational goals and vision. But you will also have to spend time on the back end side of leadership.
Leaders have to take time for the back end side and often it’s the less glamorous tasks of leadership. You have to make sure to complete all of your paperwork, administration tasks, deal with any personnel issues, and ensure the operations are running smoothly. Spend the appropriate amount of time every day or week focusing on the back end side of leadership.
5. Execute
Great leaders consistently take action and execute.
Leaders who can execute are heading toward success and achievement. Nothing can stop an action-oriented leader who is driven to accomplish a worthwhile vision.
Executing is about properly planning, setting goals, a time frame, and then gathering up team members to get the project or task completed. You have to execute in your main areas of responsibilities and influence your people to take ownership of their roles and positions. Take time to evaluate yourself and your team members when it comes to how well everyone is doing at executing.
