Always be Leading – 10 Must Traits On and Off Duty

Introduction

Do you believe that you must always be leading both when on-duty and off-duty?

Explanation

Always be leading on and off duty

Being a leader isn’t something you put on and remove like a shirt. Leadership skills and operating from a leadership perspective is something leaders do on and off duty. That’s because the skill sets that make a great business leader also make for great…

  • Spouses
  • Parents
  • Community partners
  • Volunteers

AND

Areas Where Leaders Will Always be Leading

Great leaders don’t go to work and put on their leadership hats only to take them off when they leave.  Truly great leaders lead in all that they do. They lead by how they…

  • Solve problems
  • Approach conflict
  • Prioritize their schedule
  • Treat subordinates and other people in their lives with respect

And…

  • Considerably more!
Leadership Success

Great leaders succeed in their leadership because their leadership skills are engrained in their everyday life. How you see them when they lead is also how you’ll see them when they’re behind closed doors.

In the truest sense, everyone is a leader one way or another. Your title might not officially place you in a leadership role, but you are leading. Whether it’s leading your family, friends, or a small group of people volunteering in the community, you are leading. Taking on a leadership mindset to always be leading on and off duty can help you be a more effective work leader.  That’s the type of leader that people willingly and enthusiastically follow.

Monitoring Leadership Behaviors

It’s important to realize that people are always watching, and in doing so they are evaluating one another’s leadership skills.  Based on these observations, workers will get behind the managers or even coworkers who are leading the way. People feel comfortable with others who are confident, considerate, and consistent in their behavior and their attitude.

Not all leaders desire to lead. Some people are placed in situations where they are required to lead despite their preference to blend into the crowd. Leadership is important though, and having the courage to lead…even when you don’t want to…is important too. Sometimes you’ve got to take the reins and do what’s best for the situation.

Whether you plan to lead or find yourself leading unexpectedly, you may well be  thrust into a leadership role at some point. Everyone is leading somehow and making things better for others in the process. Be cognizant of the importance of leadership and having a leadership mindset whether you are at work, at home, or in the community. Be aware of your impact on others and be sure that your leadership style is motivating and encouraging so you aren’t overrunning others or making them feel inadequate. The best leaders consistently make those they lead feel empowered and capable of whatever tasks need to be done.  In other words, they will always be leading whether on-duty or off-duty.

How to Become a Great Leader

So how do you become a great leader who will always be leading?

Leadership Traits

Always be leading to inspire subordinates

It’s certainly not always easy to be a leader, one who will always be leading.  But it is essential. Here we share with you the 10 traits of great leaders.

1: They are Inspirational

2: They Set Goals for Their Teams

3: They Manage their Time Wisely

4: They Motivate Others

5: They Encourage Creativity in Others

6: They Give Feedback Constructively

7: They Communicate Clearly and Openly

8: They Build Relationships with People on Their Teams

9: They Lead by Example

10: They Delegate Responsibility When Needed

Being a leader isn’t always easy, but it is essential. These are 10 traits that every good leader should have.

Summing Up
In conclusion, being a leader is not something that can be switched on and off. It is an ongoing way of living and behaving. Leaders are always learning and growing, and they never stop working to improve their skills. Those who aspire to be leaders should keep these things in mind, and continue to work on becoming the best leaders they can be.
Of course, while it is important to be a leader both on and off-duty, it is also necessary to be able to switch off from work and relax. It is essential to have a good work-life balance in order to be effective when always leading at work.

3 Great Leadership Behaviors

Introduction

3 great leadership behaviors that affect your career are identified in this article.  Treating subordinates well is a key indicator of great leadership.  The profound and unique lessons drawn from Bob Goff’s attitude in his collection of stories can change your perception of leadership and inspire you to be a successful leader yourself in your business setting.

“The people with the greatest love, not the most information, will influence us to change.”- Bob Goff

Great leadership behaviors

Bob Goff is the New York Times best-selling author of the book Love Does. His quote reminds us that it isn’t what you know that matters as much as how you behave. You may have all the knowledge in the world on important subjects which will make you an expert, but if you don’t have the social skills to lead others with love, you won’t be very effective.

Leaders become great
Galileo vs So-called Leaders

Goff shared a story in a blog post about Galileo, a scientist who used a telescope to determine that the Earth and the other planets rotated around the sun. At the time, this went against the standard beliefs in science and caused Galileo to be arrested and jailed. What Galileo discovered was truth, but his truth threatened those in leadership and instead of listening, they reacted defensively.

As leaders, it’s important to realize that information changes and what we think we know might be proven ineffective or wrong at some point down the line. As a leader, how you treat others is more important than what you know.

3 Great Leadership Behaviors

Here are 3 great leadership behaviors to keep in mind:

  • Avoid defensiveness
  • Inspire your team – don’t command them
  • Hire subordinates smarter than you

3 great leadership behaviors

1. Being Challenged Doesn’t Require Defensiveness

Some managers judge that their subordinates should not be challenge the boss’s authority . It’s true that a leadership role holds an expectation of authority and in most cases deserves respect.  However, respect is best when it is earned. If your authority is being challenged, hold your peace and your maturity and determine if the challenge is worthy. If so, embrace the challenge and work together to seek a solution or resolution.  In addition, embrace any new information with gratitude.  Show that you are a bigger man even if you are wrong.

2. Seek to Inspire Not Command

leadership inspires one of 3 great leadership behaviors

Leadership should inspire others to want to take action on behalf of the leader or the common goal the leader represents. How you treat others will determine how willing they are to respond to your direction. More importantly, great leaders inspire people to go beyond what they might do on their own. By serving as an example, doing the work alongside others, and being the hardest working member of the group, leaders can encourage others to give their best as well.

3. Surround Yourself with Employees Smarter than You

Great leaders know that their workplace, the external environment and their employer are ever-evolving and it requires life-long learning. No one person can know everything in all areas. Strong leaders surround themselves with people smarter than they are in certain areas and empower them and support them to shine. He or she do not feel threatened by someone else’s knowledge or the fact they don’t know everything. True leadership includes the humility of being less knowledgeable and making no apologies.

Summary

3 great leadership behaviors

What you know isn’t as important as how you operate. Being a great leader includes having high functional knowledge, but more importantly, it includes being thoughtful, sympathetic, and treating those you lead with dignity and respect. Your reward will be how your subordinates talk about you when you are not there.

The 3 Great Leadership Behaviors Rewind

Remember the 3 great leadership behaviors: avoid defensiveness, inspire your team – don’t command them and hire subordinates smarter than you.  Practice these 3 great leadership behaviors continuously with your team (while still holding them accountable) for the most effectiveness in your and their careers.

great leadership qualities for career advancement

Additional Great Leadership Behaviors

Leadership qualities in a business context vary from one individual to the next, but there are some common characteristics of a great leader.

These include:

1) Taking a proactive stance. A great leader is always looking for ways to improve the organization and make it more successful. They are never satisfied with where things stand and are always looking for ways to help the team reach its potential.

2) Focusing on the team first. Great leaders always put the needs of their team first and work hard to build relationships with their subordinates. They understand that teamwork is essential for success and will do everything they can to ensure that everyone on the team is working together towards a common goal.

3) Believing in themselves and their team. A great leader has total confidence in their abilities and is not afraid to take risks. They know that if they put in the hard work, their team will follow suit and achieve amazing things together.

4) A clear vision and strategy. A great leader has a clear vision for where they want their organization to go and knows how to get there. They have a detailed plan of action and are not hesitant to use force if necessary to achieve their goals.

5) Superior communication skills. A great leader understands the power of communication and uses it effectively in order to connect with subordinates and motivate them to work harder than ever before.

Flexicrew Staffing Can Help

If you need assistance finding individuals who possess these leadership qualities, contact one of our recruitment professionals Today.

Flexicrew , founded in 2008, focusing on fast and flexible staffing solutions. Flexicrew uses technology and industry best-practices to deliver the most talented and qualified workers–skilled and entry level to employers within most major industries. Headquartered in Chattanooga, TN with current plans to branches  in the Tennessee, northwest Georgia, Indiana, and north Alabama markets.

Growing as a Leader – 3 Tips

Introduction to Growing as a Leader

Growing as a leader

There are many ways to grow as a leader. It is important to find what works best for you and continue to develop your skills. Be open to feedback and new ideas, and always work to improve your communication and problem-solving abilities. As a leader, you play an important role in the success of your team or company. By growing and developing your own skills, you can help others reach their potential as well and make a difference and increase your impact in your organization.

If you have become a manager recently. your promotion isn’t the end of the line.  You’ve only just begun the leadership journey. Becoming a leader qualifies you to lead others, but your skills will grow over time making you more and more effective. Growing as a leader should always be the goal whether you’ve just begun or you’ve been leading for years.

Common Leadership Traits

leadership traits

The best leaders have 3 traits in common. They generally are :

  • Confident
  • Considerate
  • Consistent

Being confident, considerate, and consistent are not static things. They change all the time. Being confident wanes from time to time when work throws curve balls. Being kind and considerate of others can be a challenge when you’re overly stressed or worried. Consistency gets jeopardized when life is overwhelming or underwhelming. That’s why great leaders are always working on these areas of their lives.

Maintaining Growth as a Leader

Here are some practical ways to keep growing as a leader in the areas of confidence, consideration, and consistency.

1.Confidence
Pay Attention to what Gets You Down

We all have the triggers that affect our confidence. It’s possible to be highly confident in one area of life and completely wrecked in another. Pay attention to what gets you down at certain points of life. Your confidence might need to be bolstered here and there, even when you’re leading. Life’s circumstances can trigger areas where you don’t feel strong. Seek to find solutions when you feel your confidence get weak and you’ll be able to overcome your insecurities and become a more effective leader in the process.

2. Consideration
Pay Attention when You Feel Disinterested

When life’s firing on all cylinders it’s easy to be kind and considerate. People respect leaders who are fair and decent. They resist leaders who are harsh, unrealistic, and mean. Your off-duty life could be affecting your on-duty leadership. If you’re going through a tough time, it’s a great time to stretch and grow and learn new stress management techniques or how to overcome overwhelm. Whether you are leading a community project or a team at work, being considerate is a primary character trait of successful leadership.

3. Consistency
Pay Attention When You Are Erratic

One of the key characteristics of great leadership is dependability and consistency. That how you show up is the same today, tomorrow, and down the line. The surest thing to breach trust with others is to be erratic. When it comes to leadership, consistency is key. If you find that you are going through a season where you’re dropping the ball or you are acting in unpredictable ways, it’s a great time to grow as a leader and learn how to manage yourself and get back on track.

Leadership is not a destination, it’s a journey. Being an effective leader includes the commitment to grow. The issues you face today, won’t be the same tomorrow. The people you lead on and off duty will cause you to need new skills. Keep focused on your confidence, consideration, and consistency so you can grow and maintain high-quality leadership skills.

Growing as a leader

More Tips
Here are five more tips to help you grow as a leader:
1. Be open to constructive feedback and use it to improve your skills
2. Seek out learning opportunities and invest in your own growth
3. Take on new challenges and push yourself outside of your comfort zone
4. Build relationships with others who can help you grow and support your development
5. Find ways to give back and share what you’ve learned with others.
Tips for how to maintain your leadership growth
Conclusion
Following these tips will help you grow as a leader. Remember to always be open to learning and growing, stay humble, and be focused on your goals. As a leader, it is important to lead by example and always put the needs of your team first. Lastly, remember to take new steps and lead in new ways.  But most of all – enjoy the journey!
Maintaing growth as a leader
Flexicrew Support
If you need assistance finding individuals who possess these leadership qualities, contact one of our recruitment professionals Today.