Leadership seems to be that one thing a lot of people seem to be capable of but most of us don’t act upon. More often than not, we end up following other leaders’ wills instead. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, there are times where we just have to be the ones taking charge. But what if you feel like you lack the necessary skills to actually guide your team to the right direction? Do you even have the qualities to be the head of the project? Well fear not, you do have the skills, and they’re all things that you learned from childhood that you’ve probably forgot and need to recall:
Say “thank you”
Source: Pathways.org
Remember, whenever your coworker successfully completes a task you asked them to do, say “thank you”. Even just this simple phrase that your mother taught you lets them know that you appreciate the hard work and effort they put into the job, and makes them more likely to perform other tasks for you in the future.
Talk less, listen more
Source: Church Leaders
The quote “Great leaders listen well” holds more truth than what we realize. To be a leader, you need to be able to look into people’s eyes and understand everything they have to say. Not only will you learn more things and get more ideas, this will also build your team’s trust, as they know that you value what they have to say.
Don’t interrupt others
This goes hand in hand with listening more. When you have the urge to interrupt someone, be it because we have a new idea and want to tell the team ASAP, or because we think we have a better idea, it’s best to keep it to yourself until they’re done talking; and if you do interrupt someone, just apologize and let them continue speaking.
Help each other out
Source: Freepik
Remember, a good leader is also a team player. Help out your teammates or coworkers whenever possible. Teach them how to do this and that if they don’t know what to do. Work on a part of the project yourself. This will let them know that you are knowledgeable in the field and are completely capable doing other things when necessary.
Be kind to one another
Source: Pinterest
This is pretty much a given. Remember to treat each other with kindness and respect. Be gentle to your coworkers who are still starting out. Turn down an idea politely and provide alternatives. A little act of kindness can go a long way.
Play
“All work and no play makes jack a dull boy”. It’s okay to play around a little. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Toy with other possible ideas. Great leaders engage their followers by making their work look fun and exciting.
Now with this list in mind, go and take charge! Everything you need to know about being a leader is already within you, you just have to believe that you can do it.
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