There are many definitions of leadership \u2013 some simplify the concept and define it as the individual who leads a group \u2013 but a leader, especially in business, is so much more than that \u2013 or at least they should be! You likely have your own description, and use this to determine the qualities you look for.<\/p>\n
Leaders are those who show certain characteristics (self-awareness, vision, self-direction, ability to motivate), but even if some of these characteristics are not readily visible, does that mean that they can\u2019t then be nurtured or encouraged? How do you recognize a leader in someone? What does leadership development look like?<\/p>\n
Here are our top 5 tips for leadership development:<\/p>\n
Remember: attitude over aptitude. Skills and knowledge can be taught, but if an employee has a bad attitude, you can\u2019t expect them to lead. However, if they have the attitude, you can help inspire them and foster their leadership characteristics.
\n Transparent? Are they transparent with you, their staff, other managers? Do they actually explain the reasons behind a task, rather than just saying \u2018do this\u2019 without a reason why? This is a crucial characteristic of a good leader, but if those in leadership positions don\u2019t exhibit it, make sure that you yourself are transparent and demonstrate how important transparent communication is.
\n Hunter or Farmer? The hunter goes out to find (i.e. sales), while the farmer cultivates and helps things grow (existing relationships) \u2013 so which one of these is the best fit for the leadership position? Recognize which type of individual you have in each position, and if necessary, invest in developing the attributes of the other.
\n Innovative and creative? Innovation is vital for any company, and your leader needs to be able to recognize when and where improvements can be made.
\n Trust your gut. If an individual presents themselves as a leader, but you feel as though those characteristics may be lacking, chances are pretty good that they are. If it doesn\u2019t feel right, it probably isn\u2019t!<\/p>\n
Leadership development is something that many people talk about, but far too often do little about. Developing a strategy to encourage and cultivate leadership is an intelligent way to ensure that those within your organization have the chance to grow, both personally and professionally. And this means big gains for your business.<\/p>\n
Innovators Alliance is a network of CEOs who deal with issues like leadership development on a regular basis \u2013 so learn from them. Get in touch with us for more information about how to take advantage of this knowledge and expertise. Call us today at 1-905-332-0340.<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There are many definitions of leadership \u2013 some simplify the concept and define it as the individual who leads a group \u2013 but a leader, especially in business, is so much more than that \u2013 or at least they should be! You likely have your own description, and use this to determine the qualities you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":683,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-workplace-culture-innovation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n