Why is leadership so important in the workplace?
Workplaces without leadership don’t work – literally. So how do we make sure that the leader creates a culture where leadership is present, even when the leader is away?
In this article, we discuss some pointers for leaders to develop great teams that function well, no matter where the leader is.
Why are good leaders so important?
Why are we here?
Great leaders are good at describing why we are here, sharing a purpose and a vision that the whole team can understand and feel fulfilled by. A good leader makes it clear why everyone is where they are. They are able to skilfully outline roles, their relevance, and what the expectations are, without micromanaging. Good leaders allow each team member to understand what they should be aiming for in the workplace, and support them in finding the best possible ways of doing the job.
What do we do?
A good leader recognises that they have hired people, not robots. Everyone has their own abilities and areas in which they could improve. Leadership means recognising that some people, no matter how much training they receive, are just not suited to some specific tasks, and that does not that mean that they are not suited to the overall role. Some team members should be relied on for some tasks, and other team members for others.
A good leader accepts that no one in the job has to be perfect – this is a great example of an inclusive culture and modelling a healthy workplace in which everyone can be open about their weaknesses, and their strengths can be utilised.
How do we do it?
A good leader accepts that they must make important decisions – with input from their team – because they are ultimately taking ownership, responsibility, and accountability for the work of the team, and the result of those decisions falls onto their shoulders. Using logic more than emotion allows leaders to weigh up all their options and make fair, balanced decisions for the good of their company and team members, not simply their own preferences. Without leadership, any team will struggle, but leadership can be shown by all members of the team. Our job as leaders is to set directions, motivate and delegate, and then the team will function even when the designated leader is away.
Why is it important to develop leadership skills?
A good leader creates confidence in their team members. Praise is given out where warranted, a feedback culture focusing on growing individuals is created, and employees’ problems are listened to. Team members feel confident and secure in their job when their leader treats them well, and that can lead to improved staff retention and much better workplace morale.
How to develop your leadership skills
Contact Shooksvensen if you would like help and advice on which programme we can run at your organisation to help improve communication throughout your team, and allow your team leaders to become the best version of themselves that they can be.
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