What Makes A Great Leader, Greater

Executive management is an art form. While the skills required for effective leadership may be learned, there are some innate behaviors that separate high-level managers from everyone else. Moreover, not all leaders are the same. Some run operations with an iron fist; others lead by example. 

However you choose to shape your style as a leader, there are seven executive leadership principles that must be understood and implemented in any company if it wants to remain competitive in today’s market.

Here Are The 7 Best Executive Leadership Principles

Leadership Is Earned, Not Given:

Leadership in business comes from many different places; however, in order to lead a team through good times and bad, you must keep the trust of your employees. Without respect for you as their manager or CEO, they will not follow your direction when needed most. 

This may seem obvious, but many people forget this simple rule. With the help and guidance of a lean consultant, you can earn the respect of those who work under you before you start attempting to lead them using authority alone.

As a Leader, It Is Not About You; It Is About Them:

It may sound selfish, but when working with a team of people, it’s important to remember that your ultimate goal should be the success of your employees. They are the ones interacting with customers on a daily basis. 

If they fail, then so will your business. Whenever you make decisions that affect those who work for you, try and look at them from their perspective. Will what you want benefit those who work under you? If not, maybe reconsider making changes, even if they seem like no big deal. Remember: It’s not about you; it’s about them.

There Is Power In Numbers:

Even though everyone leads different companies and has varying degrees of authority, everyone has one thing in common; people are not working alone. Every person who works in the office has a different contribution to make, do not neglect these contributions. Make sure you listen to all employees when they speak and take their ideas into consideration; there is power in numbers that may help your business grow if respected properly.

The Devil Is In The Details:

A CEO or manager can often get so caught up in the big picture thinking that they forget about the small stuff. However, when you ignore something as simple as putting away company equipment after hours, it becomes more than just an inconvenience for your employees; it becomes an unspoken disrespect. 

Instead, use every moment of downtime throughout your workday for personal reflection and evaluation on how you run your company. Make a mental note every time an employee complains about something, put away equipment at the end of the day, and always say thank you.

Apologize; Never Assume:

It’s natural for your pride to get in the way when having to apologize or admit that you may have been wrong. But a good leader never lets their ego get in the way, even if they feel like it is undeserved. 

Realize your faults before someone else points them out to you and be quick with an apology when necessary. Assumptions have no place in being a leader so check everything.

Be a Kind Leader:

Your employees are not your friends; however, you should treat them as such outside of work hours. 

Even though you have to be a bit more professional when around your employees, this doesn’t mean that they can’t become people you care about outside of work. Your coworkers are the only family many will ever know, so take good care of them and appreciate their work even if it means sacrificing some spare time. 

Success Takes Hard Work From All Involved:

You cannot run a successful business alone, nor can you accomplish everything by depending on others. If you want to achieve the best results possible in your company, then everyone must not only pitch in but also give 100% every day. 

Take responsibility for failures within your company, and do not pin the blame onto anyone else. Instead, everyone should strive to be better tomorrow than they were today, no matter how small their tasks may seem.

In Conclusion:

A leader has many roles that they must play in order for their employees to work together towards a common goal. Every person you meet in your life, from the bottom of the corporate ladder to the top of a business empire, can teach you something new. 

It’s important to remember that there is no such thing as a one-sided relationship, every connection you make changes who you are in some way. So take what others say and use it to your advantage by applying these seven principles when working with people.