10 Tips for Next Generation Leaders
Strong, visionary, effective leaders at the helm perform a critical role in the success of any business. But that’s only part of the story; good leaders understand that leadership must happen throughout an organisation.
Increase your retention rate
Leadership holds the key to unlocking our untapped human potential, not least through developing truly engaged employees. Research shows that not only are firms with highly engaged workforces 18% more productive than those with low engagement, but innovation grows too. In fact, 59% of engaged employees said that their job brings out their most creative ideas, against just 3% of those less engaged.
But it’s important to be discerning when choosing external advisers, coaches or skills programs. Fortunately, this region has some of the most innovative and proven leadership development support in the UK; we’re very proud to bring the world’s leading experts on business strategy and leadership to work with delegates on our leadership programs, designed specifically for owner-managers and their directors. Independent research among our LEAD™ alumni shows they have grown sales by almost a third and employed 13% more people.
These leaders are already making a difference in their businesses and our economies. They are also developing their next generation of leaders, the ‘middle leaders’ who will be the board directors of the future.
Sandwiched between senior management and the wider staff, ‘middle leaders’ play a crucial role in the success of any organisation. Developing leadership skills among middle leaders can accelerate organisational change, which is why QuoLux™ created its LEADlight program.
Three quarters of employees want to learn at work and 94% say they would stay longer at a company that invested in their learning so providing opportunities for your next generation leaders to learn and improve can also improve engagement, retention and development of your most talented employees.
There are many examples of great firms embracing this approach, including Cotteswold Dairy, Snape Group and Cosgrove and Drew, for whom organisational development is a key component to business strategy. By helping middle leaders to develop their skills and improve their performance they can get better results from their teams and prepare for senior management responsibilities.
For managers who are keen to develop their leadership skills, here are our 10 suggestions:
1. Listen. By developing active listening skills, listening carefully to your team and providing support and encouragement you can help increase employee engagement.
2. Motivate and inspire. 70% of an employee’s motivation is influenced by his/her manager. Set clear and realistic goals, find out what drives each team member, involve them in decision making and provide them with the tools and support they need to achieve their tasks.
3. Say what you do, do what you say. Your behaviour sets the tone and provides an example to others - integrity is an essential trait for leaders.
4. Communicate. Think about what you say and how you say it. Communication is essential for building strong relationships with your team.
5. Coach. Set clear objectives for the team, have regular reviews and provide support where necessary.
6. Empower. Give your staff the authority and responsibility to make decisions where appropriate. Those with the relevant understanding will make the best decisions.
7. Encourage a culture of accountability. Set clear goals, delegate authority and encourage your team to assume responsibility and commit to success.
8. Recognise success. Recognition should be sincere and genuine – a simple thank you can go a long way. But don’t confuse recognition with reward. By recognising your staff, you can increase morale, productivity, engagement and retention.
9. Develop your self-awareness. If leaders know themselves, they are more likely to effectively lead people and organisations. Critically reflect and seek feedback from others to increase your awareness of your own strengths and limitations, and the impact of your behaviour on others.
10. Embrace a culture of ongoing learning. What can you learn today that is going to help you to be even better tomorrow?
Our next programme for future leaders - middle managers and supervisors - is called LEADlight and starts in September. It helps those managers below the Board and senior management team to develop their skills and awareness, improve their performance and that of their teams, and to prepare themselves for senior management responsibilities.
We’ll leave you with a quote from one of our expert Masterclass speakers, Dr Frank Dick OBE, who said in his Masterclass for us on coaching elite sporting figures and the similarities with high performing businesses, “You don’t have to be sick to get better.”
Get in touch today to invest in the future.
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