Effective Leaders Don’t Limit Contributions

Beyond titles to true value

Leadership has been a hot topic for quite some time. What makes a leader effective? How does a leader inspire their teams to accomplish more and be successful? What qualities and traits are most required in leading others? Stroll through your local bookstore and you are likely to find multiple books written on this topic.
 
Over the years, the thoughts, ideas and concepts on the topic of leadership have changed. Once upon a time, the common point of view was the leaders were to be followed, no matter what. If you had the title of leader, if you were in a position of authority, people were to do what you told them to do; no questions asked. Although this point of view on leadership was once popular, it doesn’t match modern ideals and values and is no longer effective. To be an effective leader in today’s workplace requires the willingness to ask questions and look from a different perspective. It also requires a letting go of the way ‘we used to do it.’
 

If you desire to remain an effective leader in the modern workplace, it’s time to let go of the old and embrace the new. You can start by avoiding a few former common practices. These are my top three “Don’ts” for business in today’s workplace.
 

The true value of your staff goes beyond the title of the job you hired them to do. If you hire someone as your accountant, for example, and only allow them to do what an accountant traditionally does, you are limiting the contribution that person can be to you and to your company. Encourage your staff to contribute in any way they can, and this often means working and cooperating across traditional job roles.
 
One way to get clear on where your employees can contribute beyond the scope of their title or what you have hired them for is to ask them questions. Have a conversation with them and say, “These are the things I hired you for. What else do you like to do? What else are you good at? What else would you like to learn?” Asking these questions will give you a sense of what this person will enjoy contributing to. Allow your staff to do what they are good at and what is fun for them and they contribute so much more.
 

While it may be true that you know a lot about business and the industry you work within, the employees of today don’t respond well to being talked to. The modern workplace functions from collaboration and co-creation. To effectively lead your team, you must engage them. Ask them questions. Listen to what they know. Find out what ideas they have. The most successful leaders have discovered one very important thing, be interested, not interesting.
 
Here are some questions you can ask your staff to open communication and include their insights and abilities in the creation of your company:
 

 

When someone on your staff makes a mistake, the tendency can be to focus on the mistake, get upset with your employee and do all you can to inflict blame and guilt. Not only is this not an effective way to manage people, it creates a work culture of tension and anxiety which blocks creativity.
 
Failure is just information. When an employee misses the mark, rather than looking at the result and judging it as wrong or as a failure, get them to look at what they know now that they didn’t know before.
 
When something doesn’t turn out the way you’ve decided it should, ask, “What’s right about this that I’m not getting?” Just because something didn’t go according to plan, doesn’t mean the outcome is wrong. When you are willing to ask, “What’s right about this?” you move beyond the conclusions you are functioning from that are actually stopping the expansion of your business.
 
Today’s world is changing faster than ever. Technology, transportation and so much more are constantly evolving into something new, something greater. The fast and ever-changing development of the modern world, includes changes in the workplace as well. Holding on to old practices of leadership and company management must change along with everything else if companies are to remain successful.
 
Always be willing to ask questions. Always be willing to change. That one element, the willingness to change, is what makes and breaks companies all the time. When it comes to leading your staff, allow them to do what they like to do that they are good at. Don’t limit them to their job title. Include them in the creation of the business.
 
Don’t talk so much. Telling them what you know only takes you so far. But, when you ask them what they know and allow them to contribute, things expand much faster.
 
Don’t focus on mistakes. Teach people to look at their choices and to see what their choice creates.
 
Put this into practice and notice how much easier your job will be. Not only will you be effective, you will be empowering your team to be greater which enables them to contribute even more. LE

Gary Douglas is an internationally recognized thought leader, bestselling author, business innovator and founder of Access Consciousness®, a set of pragmatic tools and teachings transforming lives around the world. He has authored or co-authored numerous books including the novel, The Place, which became a Barnes and Noble #1 bestseller. Visit https://garymdouglas.com Follow @garymdouglas