5 Steps To Successful Leadership

Good leadership is an essential element of a successful organisation, and managing leaders effectively can result in a more efficient, profitable, and valuable business.

Determine on Preferred Leadership Style

One thing that makes a leader effective is how well they fit with company culture, and how well their leadership style meshes with the requirements of their job. Leadership isn't conducive to a one-size-fits all approach, and the specific requirements of a leader depends a great deal on the organisation for which they work, and the level at which they work within it.

Identify Potential Company Leaders and Shortfalls

Your organisation may currently have all the leaders it needs, but it's always important to identify up-and-coming employees who may be suitable for leadership training in the future. It's similarly crucial to consider how your leadership needs may change as the organization evolves and grows, and be open to the idea of creating new leadership roles as needed.

Create Leadership Planning Goals

Companies that help their employees plan their careers—and offer opportunities for advancement—are rewarded with higher levels of employee retention and engagement. For people with leadership potential, it's doubly useful, because it allows the organisation and the employee to work together to ensure that they develop the competencies they will need as leaders.

Develop Leadership Skills Requirements

Along the same lines, it's also important to develop a roadmap for potential leaders to follow, to help them gain the requisite skills and experience. Both formal and non-traditional learning activities should be part of such a roadmap, including activities such as job shadowing, mentoring, coaching, rotational assignments, and project leadership.

Implement Leader Retention Programmes

One key element of leadership development that's often overlooked is that of retention. There's always the risk of losing top leaders to other organisations, so it's crucial to develop strategies that encourage leaders to stay with a company and continue performing at a high level. And these days, it's not enough to simply offer a high salary and additional financial rewards; people also value flexibility in the hours they work, the ability to work out of the office, and other perks that help them maintain a desirable work-life balance.

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