5 approved ways for leaders to give value for employees.

Employees and leaders

Leadership is undoubtedly an indispensable input for the accomplishment of any task. But how should we handle it? Let’s look at some tips for this.

Commitment. Any person who assumes a leadership role must be committed to the group. The vision and mission of the group must be internalized by the leader. An effective leader is a person who can commit to using his or her ability to lead others, perform technical skills and conceptualize situations, thus helping to ensure the achievement of goals.

Be proactive.

Covey (1989) points to the need to be proactive. Individuals who assume leadership must take the bull by the horns and move on to succeed.

Expect conflict. Conflict between people is a natural, inevitable and constant factor of human interaction. An effective leader expects conflict and is able to manage it productively.

Tell the truth, but with compassion. To a certain extent, conflicts occur because people are not able to differentiate between task-related conflict issues and their personal investment in a given situation.

Bracey, Rosenblum, Sanford and Trueblood (1990) point to the importance of truth in leadership. At the same time, however, the leader must speak the truth with compassion (e.g., about a faculty member’s job performance, etc.).

Listen.

Communication plays a vital role in achieving interpersonal and organizational goals. Communication is a two-way process. Effective communication requires leaders to be able to listen attentively. Covey’s Habit #5 (1989), Seeking First to Understand, Then Seeking to Be Understood, reflects the epitome of effective listening.

Ineffective listening undermines people’s self-esteem, self-confidence, and creativity. Remember, listening and listening are not synonymous terms.

Loving people.

Roger D’Aprix stated that leaders must be “loving in their organizational relationships” (quoted in Goldhaber, 1993, p. 217). To “love” in this context means that we recognize the value of our co-workers and respect them with the dignity they deserve. We let them know that we care about them, whether we like them or not.

Conclusions for better leadership

The conclusion is that individuals must value people and their relationships if they are to claim their “authority” to lead. Effective leadership begins with the right mindset.

That mentality is based on the individual’s willingness to lead, to serve others. An effective leader wants to have the opportunity to be involved in controlling not only his personal actions, but also the actions of those who are being directed.

This leadership attitude arises from a reasoned choice; it is a conscious decision to assume the role with all of your rights and responsibilities. In the midst of natural chaos and interpersonal interactions, effective leaders are able to demonstrate a fixed purpose.

Such leadership is determined to ensure not only that personal goals are achieved, but also, most importantly, that the group achieves its objectives and fulfills its mission.