10 ways to improve your leadership skills

With so many changes in our global world, the role of leaders is changing too as they strive to improve performance and accommodate employees’ needs.

Following an analysis of Gallup data obtained from 60 million employees across the globe, an article at hrzone.com offered 10 tips on how to become a better boss.

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1. Understand your staff

Today many workers have a sense of purpose and a desire to further their careers. That said, there are differences between roles and generations so managers should try to appreciate the motivations of individual employees.

2. More coach than boss

To get the best out of their staff, modern managers should strive to develop performance rather than merely manage it.

3. Agree on clear targets

Manager and employee should collaborate in defining performance levels which are challenging but fair.

4. Explain the why and wherefore

Employees show greater commitment if they understand their role within the context of the company as a whole.

5. Be active in goal alignment

The research indicates that when managers help to coordinate individual performance with team goals, productivity rises by well over 50%.

6. Guidelines on organising work

Mutual communication will help managers appreciate objective reasons for deadlines not being met; employees will receive assistance in establishing priorities when faced with multiple deadlines.

7. Coaching as an ongoing process

Employees should feel they can rely on their manager for support. Gallup suggests a coaching conversation once per week is ideal for maintaining employee engagement.

8. Accountability for their own development

Coaching conversations must be backed up by accountability so that employees are aware of their progress and how they may further improve in the future.

9. Look ahead rather than back

Traditional performance evaluations tend to focus on the past; as a result they are often critical and demotivating. Looking forward is more positive and constructive.

10. Focus on strong points more than weak ones

Again, the traditional approach focuses primarily on rectifying employees’ weaknesses. However, research suggests that encouraging people further to develop their strengths will yield much more effective results.

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Article source HR Zone - British website focused on HR
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