| Good leaders are made not born. If you don't | | | | Research show that there are a variety of |
| believe this, then there is little that you can do to | | | | leadership styles that leaders can use. Daniel |
| become a better leader. While some people may | | | | Goleman, the author of Leadership that Gets |
| be more outgoing or extroverted, these traits | | | | Results and an expert on Emotional Intelligence |
| alone will not determine whether or not they will | | | | (EI) describes six leadership styles: Coercive, |
| succeed as leaders; in fact, people with a wide | | | | Authoritative, Affiliative, Democratic, Pacesetting, |
| range of personality traits have become | | | | and Coaching. He concludes that there is no one |
| successful leaders by using different styles of | | | | best style. Good leaders are flexible and use their |
| leadership. It is also true that leadership is more of | | | | EI to determine what style will work best in a |
| an art than a science meaning that there is no | | | | given situation. They adapt their style to the |
| one magic formula for success; however there | | | | situation to maximize results. Getting results is |
| are fundamental principles that can be learned by | | | | ultimately what leadership is all about. |
| anyone and used to make them better leaders. | | | | Seek out a mentor: Although the common myth |
| Here are five tips on how you can improve your | | | | about success is that people are self-made, it is |
| style as a leader: | | | | more often the case that they have had a lot of |
| Commitment to leadership: Being good at anything | | | | help along their journey to become successful. |
| requires a commitment. You must decide that | | | | Often the help is provided by one or more |
| being a good leader is something that you really | | | | mentors who have experience and can be a guide |
| want to do and make a conscious decision to be | | | | to getting to where you want to go. Good |
| the best. A half-hearted commitment will not be | | | | leaders will find mentors who help them not only |
| good enough. If you don't have a passion for | | | | improve their leadership skills, but also provide |
| being a leader or simply are doing it because you | | | | them leadership opportunities too. If you want to |
| want to earn more money or please someone | | | | succeed as a leader, find someone who has |
| else, then you will never succeed to your full | | | | already done what you want to do and ask them |
| potential as a leader. Like any other endeavor in | | | | to be your mentor. Good leaders usually enjoy |
| life, the best of the best have a burning passion | | | | being mentors and will often provide you with the |
| for their chosen field. In this regard, leadership is | | | | support you need. |
| no different. | | | | Develop a values based leadership philosophy: |
| 360 Feedback: As the co-author of the | | | | Great leaders have spent time thinking about |
| One-Minute Manager, Ken Blanchard says that | | | | what is important to them. They have a set of |
| "Feedback is the breakfast of champions." This | | | | values that guide their decisions and behaviors. |
| book is one of the most popular business books | | | | The best leaders have not only thought about |
| of all time largely because of its simple truths. All | | | | their values, but have also defined a leadership |
| human endeavors require feedback for improved | | | | philosophy. This philosophy will guide them on how |
| performance. Whether you are trying to learn | | | | they deal with others and make decisions. It will |
| how to talk as a child or improve your skills as a | | | | also sustain them during times of crisis and |
| professional athlete, you can only make progress | | | | challenges so that they can have the courage to |
| by modeling what good performance looks like | | | | move ahead in the face of adversity. If you |
| and benchmarking your own performance through | | | | haven't already thought about your values and |
| feedback. Learning leadership is no different than | | | | philosophy, then take the time to do so. It will help |
| learning other skills. All good leaders seek | | | | you become a better leader. |
| feedback from the boss, their peers, and | | | | Becoming a good leader is not easy, and it |
| subordinates on how the are performing and what | | | | requires commitment, study, and constant |
| they can improve upon. Getting and using 360 | | | | improvement. While there are lots of other things |
| degree feedback from people you impact as a | | | | that you can do to become a more effective |
| leader will help you to identify what you do well | | | | leader, these five tips are among the most |
| and what you can improve. Only then can you | | | | important things that you can do. Pick the one |
| make progress for improved performance. | | | | thing that will help you the most from this list and |
| Understand how to use a flexible leadership style. | | | | get started today on becoming a better leader. |