The 3 Things that Successful Leaders Do
Great Leadership Isn't Rocket Science. These Are the Skills You Need to Succeed.
There are mountains of books, magazines, and articles that offer guidance to leaders, both new and experienced. The hundreds of thousands of pages' worth of content would make you think that leadership is rocket science.
Great leadership isn't rocket science. It's actually quite simple.
I'm writing this five-part article series to cut through the noise and share what really makes great leaders stand out — the practices that make them effective managers as well as respected professionals in the business world. They're a combination of hard and soft skills that anyone can learn.
Drawing on my 25-year journey in leadership and coaching, I've identified three key practices that genuinely effective leaders do:
Navigate.
Communicate.
Empower.
Emotional intelligence, or EQ, anchors and powers each of these practices. EQ is your ability to recognize and regulate your own emotions and those of the people around you. It's a capability that I firmly believe no leader can be without. You become a stronger leader when you learn how to apply emotional intelligence as you navigate, communicate, and empower those around you in the workplace.
This article introduces each leadership practice, which I'll cover in more detail in future blog posts. I'll keep them short and simple, because leadership isn't rocket science. In fact, it's more like sailing a boat.
1. Navigate
Imagine leadership as sailing. The organization is your ship, your team is your crew, and the uncharted waters of the sea are the business landscape. Your success hinges on a comprehensive understanding of the sea — or, in business, the industry dynamics. These include the owners' influence, unions, customer needs, competitors, regulators, and the economy at large.
You must become adept at interpreting external factors so you can guide your organization through challenges and opportunities.
Form a holistic approach to guide your strategic decisions that considers the interests of all stakeholders: shareholders, employees, customers, regulators, unions, suppliers & vendors, and the community. Project how industry trends will shape your organization's journey to steer your business or team. This foresight is critical in charting a course for future success.
If your goal is to grow revenue faster than the overall industry growth, for example, you'll need to take a strategic approach to achieve it. Will it be by outmaneuvering competitors to gain a larger market share, or is it more feasible through strategic acquisitions? You can't answer this question without a wide and deep knowledge of the key players and broader landscape.
Navigating is about anticipating future shifts and preparing your team to capably handle the changes. It ensures that your organization not only survives but thrives in an always-evolving business landscape.
2. Communicate
Communication is the wind that fills the sails of your leadership, propelling your team forward. It is as much about listening as it is about speaking. A lack of wind can leave a boat adrift, and failing to listen can deflate your team's morale. Like a skilled sailor who adjusts the sails to catch the changing winds, you can adapt your communication style to your team's needs — ultimately inspiring them to achieve greatness.
Your ability to communicate sets the tone for your team's success. Actively listen to your employees, invite their feedback and act on it, and value their perspectives. Clear and open communication builds trust, fosters collaboration, and creates a shared vision that propels your team forward.
Effective communication is deeply intertwined with emotional intelligence. It's about creating an environment where every team member feels heard and understood. Speak with clarity and purpose, ensuring your message aligns with your team's goals and values. Listen actively to tune into the nuances of your team's feedback and emotions, creating a two-way exchange that fosters a sense of belonging and commitment.
As a leader, you also need to clearly articulate goals to your team that align with your organization's overarching objectives. Consider the interests of key stakeholders, which might include owners, employees, shareholders, customers, suppliers, vendors, partners, regulators, and the community at large. This approach ensures that your team's efforts align with your organization's broader ecosystem. It fosters a culture of accountability and results-oriented performance, where everyone understands their contribution to collective success.
3. Empower
As a leader, you’re the captain of the ship. Empowering your team is like giving your crew the freedom to adjust course based on winds, currents, and weather without micromanaging. It means that you're genuinely open to new ideas on how to run the ship — and that your crew is comfortable bringing those ideas to you.
As a leader, you wield the power to unlock your employees' vast potential. Empowerment goes beyond equipping your team with the right tools; it's about fostering an environment where every individual, from frontline staff to senior managers, feels valued and capable of contributing to the company's success.
Empathetically consider what your diverse team needs in order to create a culture of empowerment, where everyone is encouraged to grow, innovate, and contribute to the organization's overarching goals. Development and growth should be a continuous journey for employees.
Provide your employees opportunities for learning, and equip them with the tools and resources they need to be successful. Move beyond traditional training methods toward diverse opportunities like cross-functional projects, leadership development programs, and mentorship initiatives. The experiences should cater to your employees' varied needs and aspirations, such as honing technical skills and training for leadership roles.
Embrace performance management as an ongoing dialogue, not just an annual review. Give employees timely, constructive feedback that helps them understand their performance, areas for improvement, and trajectory for growth. Recognize and reward achievements both publicly and privately, and boost compensation for those consistently exceeding expectations.
Building up your employees through learning, feedback, and support empowers them to become leaders in their own right. It sets everyone up for success.
Learn To Navigate, Communicate, and Empower using EQ
Being a successful leader doesn't have to be complicated. Use your emotional intelligence to guide you. Keep it simple: navigate, communicate, and empower.
In the next four articles of this series, I'm exploring in more detail the most important elements and practical tips for:
developing emotional intelligence,
navigating the waters,
communicating with others, and
empowering your team.
I'll also offer recommendations to take your learning deeper — the books, articles, and resources actually worth your time. Once you learn the ropes, it's smooth sailing ahead!