Leadership is crucial to employee engagement and retention, and it is important to realize there is a difference between managing work and leading people.
Fast Company shares the following truths every leader should recognize.
- Good leaders remove fear from the atmosphere. Traditional bosses often use fear to boost progress, which kills creativity, collaboration and psychological safety. Modern leaders create safety first so their employees feel they can share ideas and take risks without fear of punishment.
- Trust is nonnegotiable. You should ensure your behavior increases trust, which is the foundation of high-performing teams. Leaders who build trust practice transparency, keep commitments and hold themselves accountable.
- Accepting feedback fuels good leadership. Good leaders set their egos aside and use feedback to grow. Be sure to invite feedback, listen with curiosity and ask questions until you truly understand.
- Good leaders stay positive under pressure. Emotionally intelligent leaders do not avoid reality, but they frame problems as opportunities to regroup and start again. Positivity reduces stress for you and your team.
- Procrastination kills leadership. Effective leaders take action rather than delaying difficult decisions and conversations. They avoid chaos by anticipating issues and addressing them before they become a crisis.
- Boundaries are a leader’s best friend. It is important to protect your time and energy. Do not be afraid to say no to negativity and overcommitment.
