Today’s business environment is complex. With this comes a lot of moving parts and organizations rely heavily on managers to lead their team and produce positive results. People can often find themselves in leadership roles without formal training and limited experience.

True leadership is pushing others to see their full potential. When you have a strategic leader they are focused on consistently achieving goals, fostering employee commitment, and adapting to changes. Even without prior experience in management, there are ways to leverage talents and skills to enhance team performance effectively.

Crafting a Unique Leadership Style

Everyone has a different way of doing things— and that is a good thing! Being able to bring your own attributes and skills can give meaningful exposure to different methods, approaches, styles, and feedback. When you are being yourself you will be more in tune with what is working and what needs improvement. Like anything, strengthen your leadership skills takes practice— here are a couple of ideas to consider:

1. Leading People:

Lead by example: Arrive prepared, meet deadlines, and be honest.
Own outcomes: Take responsibility for team failures and shortcomings rather than assigning blame.
Follow through: Be reliable and fulfill your commitments. Communicate about any obstacles in a timely manner.
Constructive feedback: Think of your own experience here. Offer helpful feedback to your team, but also acknowledge the things that are going right.

How do you feel when your achievements get noticed?

This type of environment allows for ambitious goals to be completed because the feedback is balanced, honest and purposeful.

2. Building Trust and Collaboration:

Trustworthy: Demonstrate integrity, empathy, and competence through words and actions.
Encourage vulnerability: Share challenges appropriately to foster openness.
Actively listen: Consider diverse perspectives to make well-informed decisions.
Assume positive intent: Give others the benefit of the doubt.
Facilitate connections: Promote meaningful interactions among team members.
Resolve conflicts constructively: Maintain respect for all team members while addressing issues.
Celebrate collective success: Recognize the value of teamwork.

3. Fostering Open Communication:

Open communication serves as the foundation for effective teams. Leaders can:

Listen to understand: Acknowledge team members' perspectives, including nonverbal cues.
Establish feedback loops: Provide various avenues for feedback on individual and team performance, including anonymous channels.
Conduct effective team meetings: Regularly convene brief sessions to inform, provide feedback, and acknowledge progress. Allocate additional time as needed for problem-solving and brainstorming.
Hold 1-on-1 sessions: Connect with team members to gather input and offer candid feedback on their contributions.
Evaluate and improve: Reflect on dynamics, participation, and the overall feel of the environment. It’s important to make those necessary changes.

Fostering open communication promotes trust, cohesion, and inclusivity.

4. Setting Direction:

Define Team Objectives and clarify expectations: Articulate what it is the team needs to achieve. Align with the overall vision of success. Establish transparency regarding objectives, responsibilities, and decision-making processes.
Define Roles and Responsibilities: Outline each team member's role and area of responsibility, aligning roles with individual strengths and monitor overlap. Avoid microlevel specifics for individuals-provide room for innovation and personal creativity in fulfilling responsibilities.
Set Clear Goals: Collaboratively develop SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals aligned with the broader organizational strategy. Continuously reinforce these goals through effective communication.

Well-defined goals provide a clear path to track progress and actively work toward the shared mission.

5. Driving Results:

Measurement: Establish team metrics and key performance indicators for success.
Data-Driven Approach: Balance personal experience with data-driven decision-making while also recognizing the value of intuition.
Prioritize Team Results: Place the emphasis on team achievements over individual accomplishments.
Track Progress: Assess the team's progress through observation, stakeholder feedback, metrics, and key indicators. Provide candid feedback and make necessary adjustments.
Identify development opportunities: View shortfalls or missed objectives as chances for improvement. Hold the team accountable for improvement plans and adjustments.
Celebrate: Recognize team wins and individual contributions.

When a workforce is engaged the creativity and innovation is evident. They have a desire to outperform competitors and help create a culture of winning.

6. Enabling Performance:

Optimize Resource Allocation: Ensure the team has the necessary resources to accomplish its goals, efficiently allocating resources to maximize productivity.
Embrace Change and Innovation: Adapt strategies as circumstances evolve, encouraging innovation and demonstrating flexibility.
Conflict Resolution: Address conflicts promptly and constructively to maintain a harmonious working environment. Equip the team with problem-solving techniques.
Work-Life Balance: Promote both dedication and work-life balance to prevent burnout and support team members' well-being. Allocate time for team bonding and personal connections to foster camaraderie.
Continuous Improvement: Cultivate a culture of continuous learning and improvement, encouraging team members to reflect on their performance and seek opportunities for growth.

Taking Action

The first step entails believing in your potential for growth and improvement. Commit to shifting your mindset from management to empowering leadership. Then, purposefully build a plan for improvement by obtaining feedback and using continuous learning and practice.

If you are interested in developing your abilities as a leader, schedule time to discuss.

Mastering Leadership: Unleashing Team Potential in Today’s Complex Environment