Developing Your Managers Leadership Skills
Most workplaces nowadays tend to favour a leadership approach founded on employee empowerment rather than authoritarian rule. As companies transition away from management styles driven by mere task delegation, more workers are now being encouraged to think independently and make sound decisions without needing a manager telling them to do so. This progressive leadership approach will benefit these companies with increased trust, growth, creativity, and employee satisfaction.
However, a lot of organisations have a misconception about empowerment. They often mistake an empowered workplace for one where leaders are “hands-off” on all operations, leaving team members with no direction and a lack of guidance for their self-improvement.
To have a high-performing workplace, you need leaders who can perpetuate a cycle of empowerment. They must encourage a culture of mentorship that encourages team members to become self-motivated enough to adapt, make decisions, and act without needing too much managerial oversight.
Do you believe that your management team can do better at leading? Here are some ways you can help them develop their leadership skills and instigate a ripple effect of empowerment throughout your organisation.
Provide Sufficient Guidance and Resources
Of course, you cannot expect your leaders to level up their skills without the right resources. Leaders need the right tools, training, and guidance to effectively transform behaviours and habits. With that in mind, investing in training programmes and instructional materials can effectively acclimate leaders into their roles.
Outside assistance would also help by providing unbiased support to your team. For example, hiring a productivity coach can train employees to become more motivated to complete tasks and give a better sense of agency for all the team.
Allow Your Leaders to Have Autonomy
A healthy relationship with your leaders is dependent on mutual trust. To help your leaders feel empowered, you should avoid the tendency to micromanage and instead guide them towards solving problems themselves. Reinforcing the habit of figuring out creative solutions boosts their confidence and gives them a heightened sense of being in charge.
Hone Their Strengths and Personal Values
To nurture self-starting leaders, you need to connect with them by being aware of their strengths and personal values. It gives you an idea of how they approach leadership and how they view career growth. Leaders must work with their teams to determine how best to implement these values for individual and company growth.
Along with their strengths, your leaders also have their limitations. Mistakes are inevitable, and your leaders must be able to grow through these blunders and go beyond potential setbacks. Allow your leaders to recognise their strengths and work with them in using these good qualities to resolve problems in their way.
Establish Clear Expectations
To help your leaders properly find their footing in team management, you should communicate clearly what is expected of them. Establish objectives with achievable metrics to help them visualise your goals for them.
Additionally, your leaders must know their role in achieving your organisation’s vision. It helps them understand that they are not just cogs in the machine but rather partners that have the power to make a difference through their valuable contributions.
Cultivate a Healthy Work Culture with Open Communication
Work culture plays a critical role in encouraging your leaders to do better. A workplace with team member disengagement and passivity will negatively impact both your leaders and team members. Fortunately, you can help your leaders proactively take steps towards a healthier work environment by encouraging behaviours and mindsets founded on respect, honesty, and open communication.
The last aspect is especially crucial for developing the skills of your employees. Open communication requires both parties to give constructive feedback and constantly seek input. Your team members should be able to communicate freely to have a healthy exchange of ideas that can propel your company forward. At its core, open communication entails the ability to share and listen.
Recognise Their Work
Anyone who has ever been part of a workplace is aware that showing appreciation for employees’ efforts inspires them to do even better next time. Recognising hard work encourages them to develop their innovation, resourcefulness, and creative problem-solving skills. As a leader, let them see how far they have come and how much farther they can go.
Empowering Leaders To Rising to Challenges
For your organisation to progress in a modern landscape, your leaders need to improve their capacity to take action and develop strategies. To do this, they need a nurturing environment that values independent thinking, trust, and clear communication. Having these will develop leaders that not only tackle challenges head-on but also inspire others to go beyond their capabilities. Through effective leadership, you can instigate a cycle of empowerment that will drive your organisation forward and make it a more rewarding workplace to be a part of.
Start training your employees today with Priority Management Australia’s in-house training. Send us a message today.