Do you what it means to be a respected leader? If you want people to fall in line behind you, you need to learn the fundamentals of what it takes to win their respect.
John Bradberry Charlotte NC has had people look up to him for decades, so he knows a thing or two about leadership.
He has managed to surpass expectations while maintaining integrity, so those seeking advice on this subject often seek his counsel.
If you are not in the position to do this, keep the following key principles of leadership in mind.
1) Lead by example
Of all the principles behind leadership, this one is the most important, as the vast majority of people find it impossible to respect someone that doesn’t back up their words with the appropriate action.
Why should anyone work hard for a leader who can frequently be seen kicking up their feet on their desk? Why should they be honest about their performance if their boss is a serial liar?
Employees will know that you mean exactly what you say if you practice what you preach, so if you want a workplace that is productive, engage in those same productive actions yourself.
2) Stay on top of your company’s field
If you wish to continue leading your company into the future, you need to be able to know where your field will be years down the road.
In order to achieve this, you need to be constantly reading, studying, and learning about the latest developments in your space.
You won’t be any good to investors and employees that depend on you for a steady paycheck if you are stuck with yesterday’s knowledge in these rapidly changing times.
Those who do the best keeping up with innovation today will win tomorrow, so redouble your efforts in staying on top of your field.
3) Be responsible for your actions
Inevitably, you or someone in your company will screw up at some point … that’s just how probability and variance works. When it does happen to you, take responsibility for what happened, make efforts to correct the mistake, and offer reparations to those affected.
Burying your head in the sand and waiting for things to blow over may have worked years ago, but the presence of 24-hour new channels and the internet means that you will be hammered by a scandal until something is done to resolve the situation.
Once it is addressed in a way that satisfies aggrieved parties, or at least demonstrates an honest effort on your part to make things right, you can transition back to normality.
4) Be as transparent with employees as possible
Younger generations values people who are real. Since they grew up showcasing their true selves on the net, they expect the same from their politicians, the brands they buy goods from, and the employers they work for.
While there are certain things you won’t want to reveal to rank-and-file employees for security reasons, there are other areas where you can open up in a way that would make older generations cringe.
By sharing metrics that were once kept secret, you will be empowering people to do better, as they will have the feedback to know where they are at. Because of this, they will know what they will need to do get the company where it needs to go.