As it is rightly said “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others”. Leadership is about inspiring others, leading by example, respecting the behavior of others and their cultures and maintaining constructive relationships with the employees of the organization. Leadership always plays a critical role when it comes to formulating the strategies of the organizations as they clearly define the effectiveness and the success of the company. 

With the change in working dynamics, it is imperative for organizations to implement leadership strategies that would enhance the performance of their employees which in turn would contribute to the greater success of the organization. Some of the important leadership strategies that can be used to influence the actions of the employees are:

A leader should inspire, communicate the vision and lead by example

Vision helps the leader paint a picture of the future of an organization. It is a long term goal that can be measured. Leaders who lead by example are the ones who are much respected and valued by the people surrounding them. A person at the helm of the organization/department/team should always lead by example as that would motivate the employees/team members in achieving the organization’s objectives. It is also imperative for a leader to constantly inspire the employees of the organization as that would help them to work towards achieving organizational goals.. A leader should also be able to communicate the vision of the company with others and put it into action so that employees can work towards achieving it. A leader’s vision helps to bring the team together under a common goal so that employees are working together towards achieving the goal. Open communication with the team gives a clear picture regarding where exactly the team is within the vision at a given time, and whether they are getting closer to the goal or are moving further away.

Encourage recognition

Employees like to be appreciated for the good work they do. They want to feel valued in an organization. It gives them a sense of commitment and engagement. When a team or an individual work above and beyond their expectations to achieve great results, a leader should show support by celebrating and recognizing their efforts. Being acknowledged or recognized gives employees a feeling of job mastery and also gives them the confidence that they are a great fit for the job. A leader can encourage continued commitment from the employees by giving them credit for the good work they do. When the team’s efforts are recognized, it creates a great sense of community that motivates everyone to perform at their highest level.

Speak with passion

As rightly said by Charles M. Schwab, “A person can succeed at almost anything for which they have unlimited enthusiasm.” Leaders require passion to turn vision into reality. When a leader communicates with the team, they know if she/he is passionate and committed towards the task at hand. Passion elevates productivity and it ensures that the employees are committed to the vision. Leaders can inspire employees to be passionate by expressing genuine enthusiasm and expressing why the organization does what it does and how their organization makes a difference. Without passion, employees will not have the right energy and focus that is necessary to help the organization succeed and make a difference. 

Delegate and empower the team

The best leadership strategy is to empower the employees by delegating greater responsibility. A leader should give the employees an adequate feedback and development opportunity. Empower them, train them, encourage them and then reward them for the work they do. A leader is responsible for developing her/his employees to ensure that they are well trained and to identify future leaders of the organization. By delegating responsibility, a leader gives a powerful statement to the employees about how much they are trusted and how valuable they are to the company. 

Keep learning as you grow

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” Great leaders are committed to continued growth and refinement through continued education, practical application of skills, and networking with people inside and outside the organization. By continued learning, the  leader can help the company in adapting new techniques in sync with the changing external environments. Today’s successful leaders are the ones who learn quickly, are open to new ideas and find learning in every experience. Openness to adopt, to explore and adapt newer practices would always enhance the quality of the working environment and would help organizations achieve their ultimate goal. 

Great organizations require great leaders, and the best organizations understand the importance of nurturing leadership skills and not leaving anything to chance.