Leon Edward asked:
When you have goals for your business, you expect your employees to work toward those goals. However, more often what is occurring is that work time is becoming a social hour. When you look around and see employees hanging around chatting and not getting their work done, it can be extremely frustrating. There are things that can be done to eliminate the downtime of your office.
There are times when employees wait for instructions and do nothing until they get them. They follow the leader. If you have the drive and ambition to be the leader, than maybe you should try it out.
There are some who believe that leadership is a quality you are born with. However it is more likely that it is a skill that takes many years to develop. It takes not only a lot of drive and determination but also the ability to be the Bad Guy sometimes.
It is important to remember that a good leader must be a person who is willing to continuously improve their leadership skills to set an example for your employees.
The definition of leadership is that an in order to be an effective leader you must be able to persuade your employees to accomplish a goal. It is important for a leader to contribute as much as the employee.
A good leader does not need to exert power through fear or intimidation, nor does a good leader harass the employees or use underhanded power plays. A good leader encourages his or her employees to do their best in achieving the goals that are set. Goals that are not so far out of reach that employees feel they can never be met.
A good leader will not have any problem with people following him or her. When they see you have a sense of purpose and an air of confidence, you are more likely to be taken seriously. If you walk around like you are lost and confused then your employees will not respect or follow you.
As the owner of your company you must have a clear vision of where you want your company to go. A mission statement will aid your employees in meeting objective set by you. Make sure that all of upper management understands what the goals you set are so they can make it clear to the rest of the staff.
Being a good leader is not just about telling people what to do. When you lead by example, you are letting your employees know that you will not ask them to do anything you would not do yourself.
Studies have indicated that one of the major factors in building leadership is to gain the confidence of your employees. When your employees trust you, and better yet, respect you, they will give more of themselves to their jobs.
The manner in which you handle your employees will say a lot for your leadership abilities. If you show strength as well as compassion you will be build the confidence of your employees.
When you gain the trust and confidence of your employees, they will understand what you expect of them. Communication is one of the most important factors of being a good leader. Showing them instead of order them will gain their respect quickly.
Using good judgment is also a skill that a good leader uses on a daily basis. You have to be able to clearly assess any situation and make a decision quickly. Your employees will soon realize how vital your judgment is and rely upon it.
Leadership does not include being a know it all. When you ask the opinions of your employees and respect what they have to say, then you will in turn be gaining their respect. Recognizing that your employees may have a lot to say and contribute is showing good leadership skills.
Being a good leader is not a part time job. It is a lot of responsibility. It is important that you remember that being a leader is built on how your employees look at you.