How to equip your managers to become great leaders

Great managers can and should become great leaders. The opinion is still varied regarding this topic. Managing and leadership require different soft skills but both are only best utilized when combined together. Managers are more driven when they are leaders. Leaders are only efficient when they properly manage their teams. The focus is now on how to equip managers to become great leaders.

In this context, how can a manager become a good leader? First, let's define each one.

Managers strive for performance perfection. They plan and coordinate tasks in a work team so that everyone does their job properly. Leaders focus on providing direction. They inspire their team to reach further and strive to maintain that level of motivation.

Each function is crucial for a company's overall productivity, but although some view them as separate jobs, one can't work without the other. The best managers are generally the best leaders. Few people can master both jobs, but when they do, they are able to generate great results out of engaged work teams. As a result of this train of thought, great companies see both functions as one job.

As workforce demands keep getting more complex, management-level personnel need to adapt to the talent available. In the modern workplace, managers need to be active leaders in order to bring the best out of their teams. There are a few key aspects a manager needs to focus on his/her leadership.

Equip managers to become great leaders with 10 simple tips

In order to equip managers with great leadership skills, you need to know which subjects they should focus on. This is how you should approach them:

1 - Be a good communicator

Great leaders are normally great communicators. They know how and when to speak up as well as knowing when to listen. This is also a common trait among great managers. It's very important to ensure that your message reaches its intended target the right way.

As a leader you need to show your point to people, so improving your communication skills is crucial. You have to generate an impact on others when you speak.

2 - Delegate tasks

Great leaders don't try to do all the work by themselves. Micromanaging your team is bad, you should give them the autonomy to do their own work and have the room to be creative.

Empowering others is a daily task for a great leader. You need to delegate tasks so that you show your employees you trust them and their ability to get positive results. This is a great way to motivate your workforce.

3 - Be a positive-thinking role model

Having a positive attitude is always helpful for you as a manager to maintain everybody else cheerfully as well. Being that kind of presence helps others feel motivated toward reaching their goals. Great leaders are always a positive presence surrounding their teams.

That attitude is crucial for motivating your employees to achieve greatness and to keep them on a growing path. Be a great and positive influence on others and they will recognize you as a leader.

4 - Keep improving yourself

Everybody has flaws and skills they wished to improve. You as a leader do as well. Always strive to be a little bit better every day and learn from your mistakes. Take time to reflect on when you went wrong or look for room for improvement. By doing that, you don't fall into repeating your own mistakes.

Even when you are leading a team of people, you will always be in a learning process. Great leaders strive for personal improvement every day. That commitment to evolving is what sets great leaders apart.

5 - Value feedback culture

In order to grow as a leader and the organization as a whole, you need to address the value of good and honest feedback. You give timely feedback to your team members and you should ask for that same feedback about your performance. That continuous exchange of feedback helps your entire team grow as a unit as well.

You can improve through others' insights on your work. Honest feedback is fundamental for employee engagement and that should be one of your main priorities as a leader. We here at Tap My Back focus on providing leaders with the right tools and methods to gather feedback and build more engaged teams.

6 - Have a clear vision of your goals

You can't lead without a proper strategy. In order for you to properly lead a team, you need to set a clear direction for them. That is one of the most skills a leader must have but important to focus on nonetheless.

Great leaders adapt their managing style to their team's goals. They can be the architects of an organization's success by implementing the blueprints for employee engagement and productivity. For that to happen, you should know your company's strengths and flaws so that your plan encompasses the entire structure of the organization.

7 - Use a people-centric approach

Your team members and peers are the greatest assets of your organization. You should treat them as such and should make them a priority in planning toward your organization's goals.

With most companies nowadays struggling with the issue of talent retention, having a people-centric approach seems like a sensible way of addressing your workforce. You need to listen to their needs and integrate those insights into your overall planning.

8 - Manage your own time

Time is a finite resource, so you need to properly adjust your schedule to your team's needs. Great leaders know what to prioritize and when to prioritize certain issues. You will need to make decisions quickly in order to provide your company with a marketplace advantage.

It is also very important that you know when to take a break. Sometimes you will be over-stressed to deal with your employee's problems. Give yourself the time to recover lost energies that you will need in order to lead adequately.

9 - Value the diversity of talent

During your professional life, you will meet very different people with different skills. As a leader, you will need to embrace the variety of talent you have in your team and best adjust their effort to the overall company performance.

You should value each person as an individual and not just as part of your team. What may work for one person, may not work for others. You should also restrain yourself from discriminating against someone for their sex, age or religion. Get to know those people and what drives them. Knowing your team well is crucial for every great leader.

10 - Be faithful to your passion and ethical integrity

Great leaders have a tendency to be very passionate about what they believe. They are a very contagious presence in the workplace and can motivate others to reflect their own values.

As a leader, you should never compromise what you believe in so that others see you as a trustworthy example. Ethics are very important to maintain in the workplace environment and you should always treat others with honesty. Your actions must be aligned with your morals and values in order to be a respectful presence.

Managers need to focus more on building strong leadership relationships with their employees. Through these 10 tips, you should have a better understanding of where to focus your leadership efforts. Did you find this helpful? Lets us know! Send your questions and comments to [email protected]