3 Top Tips for Effective Leadership at all Levels

Regardless of what industry you find yourself in, there is one certainty across them all, leadership begins at all levels.

Many people make the mistake of ruling themselves out of being an effective leader because they haven’t yet reached a position of management or because they’ve limited their potential by rigidly abiding by their job description.

Here are 3 Top Tips to help you become an effective leader at your level:

1. Put people first

There’s a fine line between putting people first in leadership and being the person everyone in the office comes to when they have a long-winded rant about the boss they want to offload. It’s essential to understand where that line is and be careful not to cross it.

Start taking an interest in the people around you, an effective leader knows their people, they know what drives them, what their key skills are and most importantly how to get the best out of them. When you take a real interest in people, you will start building trusting relationships on a professional level and it will open doors.

2. Lead by example

The importance of demonstrating professional values cannot be underestimated. Whether it be showing up two to three minutes late to a meeting, using inappropriate language, dissing the boss to your peers or putting the company down after they release their latest figures…The list is endless and the message is simple, as a leader, show others to ‘do as you do’.

In order to excel in any business it’s important to get on board with the company’s values, live them, breathe them and challenge them if needed. Set an example you would want your team to follow. Don’t be like everyone else. When you behave like a leader you will become a leader.

3. Share the success

Have you ever put some serious work into a project, long hours, countless coffee rings on your desk and an earache from your other half for forgetting to feed the cat, only for someone else to claim all the glory? Most people have at some point and it’s the worst feeling, you want to scream and shout and kick up a fuss but you realise that won’t be good for your personal brand so you silently bubble over plotting your sweet revenge.

Don’t be that person, sharing the glory with those who deserve it will enhance your personal brand, it will command respect from those you work with and show those in senior positions that you recognise the importance of collaboration to achieve success.

When attempting to enhance your leadership skills ridding yourself of the negative mindset that hinders you will help you take a step towards effective leadership. Being an effective leader will help you to be able to stand out amongst your peers, and even those in more senior positions.