Question

Leadership comes down to taking care of the people in your organization and making them the best they can be, not giving up on them and never failing to be there for them. Explain how you will, when in a manager or leadership role, accomplish this?

Answer 1

Give people freedom and autonomy

If people feel like they have to be doing their work in a particular way, have to wear certain things in the office, and can't be themselves, they are going to be less happy and productive.

Push people to do what they don't think they can do

Autonomy is important, but without an overall sense of guidance, people might spend significant time trying to figure out what they actually should be doing.

Consistently praise them and always appreciate them. If you want a great team, if you want happy people, you have to praise them and acknowledge them and praise them some more. When you let your team know you're aware of what they can be and what they can become, that is when you can begin reaping the benefit of their growing greatness.

Keep a positive attitude.: As much as leaders wish their team's day-to-day operations could run smoothly all the time, they're bound to run into the occasional obstacle. Whether it's a minor miscommunication or a major error, the way you handle a negative situation says a lot about your leadership skills.

Be open to new ideas.: Good leaders have the emotional intelligence to understand and accept that change is inevitable. Instead of trying to maintain a status quo just for the sake of consistency, embrace change and innovation. Be open to new ideas and alternative ways of thinking. Everyone brings a unique perspective to the table, and that is something to take advantage of, not discourage.

Give them what they need to be successful. There's a simple way to find out what your team needs: ask them. You may not always be able to give them everything they want, but you can always work hard to make sure they have everything they need.

Guide them to work together toward a compelling vision. Working toward a common vision is the beginning of progress for any team, and a sure sign that they're on the road to success. When your team learns to work together and not as a group of individuals pulling in different directions, things start to find meaning. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you work together toward a shared compelling vision.