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One Simple Habit Separates Successful Leaders From Everyone Else (Bill Gates)
One Simple Habit Separates Successful Leaders From Everyone Else (Bill Gates)
Allow me to bring you back to the real world. Leaders are often contrarian
types who set themselves apart by employing the skills and habits required
to effectively influence human beings.
One of those habits takes more heart than head, as prescribed by a Bill
Gates quote years back. It should resonate deep within our collective
conscience if we are to raise the bar of our own leadership. The co-
founder of Microsoft said:
"As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower
others."
While that may sound vague to some (what exactly does "empower"
mean?), let's put some definition around it, in the context of effective
leadership performance today. But first, we need to clear an obstacle to our
thinking about any misconceptions and false truths about what leadership
is not.
True leadership doesn't require a fancy title that comes with a corner office
or company car. It doesn't imply having a position in the hierarchy to
"lord over" someone else.
So let's get practical. Here are four leadership practices you can start
implementing to effectively empower your employees:
Branson says, "We've never been 100 percent sure that any of the
businesses we've started at Virgin were going to be successful. But over 45
years, we've always stood by our motto: 'Screw it, let's do it.' Do not be
embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again. Making
mistakes and experiencing setbacks is part of the DNA of every successful
entrepreneur, and I am no exception."
Your people have individual strengths and gifts which you may not even be
aware of, which could be leveraged for unique contributions to the
business.
So, a top priority for leaders to elevate their game is to recognize and
acknowledge those strengths and craft opportunities that will grow their
employees in areas where they'll naturally excel.
This is empowering to employees, who feel like their ideas are heard and
considered before the decision is made. But first, a leader's job is to ensure
that people feel safe expressing dissent.
If you want to foster high trust, high risk-taking, high creativity, and open
communication, and you're still riding on your autocratic leadership high
horse, it may be time to get off, release control, and stop dictating. Now I'm
going to tell you to do something very counter-intuitive as a leader: Let your
people take turns leading.
If you're in management, consider this: When you build a great team under
you, take the higher road of sharing power and decision making. Because
when you do, you actually gain real power--your team will have your back
and do great work for the company to succeed.