Every leader may not be a manager, but every manager should be a leader

June 17, 2013 | 12:13
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It’s easy to see that leadership and management aren’t the same thing, but a manager who lacks effective leadership traits will drive a business into the ground faster than you can count to 10.


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Change doesn’t happen overnight when it comes to transforming managers into leaders. It takes time and energy to improve the way you manage and utilise more leadership characteristics on a daily basis.

Here are some tips to help you make the necessary improvements:

1. Managers give answers, leaders ask questions. There’s nothing certain to turn your employees against you faster than shouting orders at them. Allowing people to participate in the decision-making process will not only transform what could have been an order into something more easily swallowed - it also inspires creativity, motivation, and autonomy.

2. Managers criticise mistakes, leaders call attention to mistakes indirectly. It may seem more efficient to point out your employees’ mistakes directly, but this will only leave them feeling embarrassed and frustrated. You should really be giving them the chance to learn and grow from through your critiques. Instead, give your employees the chance to address their mistakes.

3. Managers forget to praise, leaders reward even the smallest improvement. Praise pays off when it comes to increasing the overall success of your company. Finding time to recognise your employees for even the smallest accomplishment will only increase their interest in what they do. Everyone wants to be genuinely appreciated for their efforts.

4. Managers focus on the bad, leaders emphasise the good. If you’re only willing to point out the flaws of a project or an employee, you’re not giving them much interest in learning or improving. Start with some form of praise, follow with the criticism, and end with praise.

Management shouldn’t be approach through force, but rather through influence. Put these techniques in place to improve the way your employees perform.n

Source: forbes.com
Source: http://www.navigossearch.com

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