Leadership is a quality that people are constantly looking to improve. There is a lot of literature available on whether or not leadership is a trait that you’re born with or that you can develop into. One of the best ways to learn more about what works and what doesn’t in leadership is to take advice from those in leadership positions.
It is no secret that Microsoft is under the tutelage of some great leaders. CEO Satya Nadella has spent over two decades with the software and technology giant and learned some great leadership tactics along the way. He spoke to the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona about what he has learned about his own leadership and three traits that he looks for in a leader. You can read the full article here.
Provide Clarity
Just as a captain navigates the rough seas, employees will look to their boss to navigate them through difficult times. One way to do this is by remaining transparent and providing clarity as to what is going on within the company.
According to Nadella, “You can’t call yourself a leader by coming into a situation that is by nature uncertain, ambiguous – and create confusion.” He added, “[to be a leader] you have to have clarity, where none exists.”
Generate Energy
Being able to generate energy for your team will provide a vibrant environment for employees to look forward to being in each day. Often times throughout the course of the year, the day to day grind can cause even the best workers to simply go through the motions and lack productivity.
As a leader, you have to motivate your employees if you want to keep them at your company. One way to do this is to create an energetic environment.
Drive Success
Contrary to popular belief, success usually doesn’t happen right away. In fact, many companies do not meet their expectations of success and end up folding before they ever have the chance. Just as there is no blueprint for success for everyone to follow, companies may experience failure in order to reach their pinnacle.
This is not a bad thing, but the defining moment will be how the leader (you) inspire your team to learn from the experience and come out stronger. In Steve Jobs’ commencement speech to the 2005 Stanford University graduating class, he said:
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”
It is no secret that Jobs built Apple into the tech giant it is today, however, he had his fair share of obstacles as well.
Wrap Up
Leadership remains a hot topic in today’s professional world. Chances are we’ve all worked for a good leader, but also one that could’ve used some work in terms of his or her leadership skills and style. While it might not work for everyone, learning from successful leaders and being able to implement and apply their experience to your own role is a helpful tool to improve your leadership.
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