Leadership is a complex, multifaceted role that entails many different responsibilities. It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what the most important roles are for a leader because there are so many possibilities.
However, we can agree on 3 things:
1) Leaders need to have clear goals and objectives;
2) They need to motivate their followers and provide them with direction;
3) They must support their team members in order for them to succeed.
In this post, we’ll explore the top 3 critical roles a leader must embrace to succeed.
Leaders Must Provide a Vision
An effective leader provides a clear vision for their team. A vision is the mental picture of the desired outcome. This vision provides direction and meaning for employees to follow.
Properly communicated and executed, this vision can motivate a team to excel. If the company’s vision is not clear or is not clearly communicated, the team can easily become apathetic.
A leader's ability to articulate a vision will have an impact on how their team performs, so they must be able to communicate in ways that resonate with their followers.
A clear vision provides a roadmap for your team to follow. When the company’s vision is not clearly communicated, or doesn't provide employees with meaning in their work, it can be difficult for them to excel and take initiative when they need to make decisions on their own.
Leaders Must Motivate and Inspire Others to Act
Leaders are always seeking new and creative ways to motivate and inspire their people, but how do they go about doing that?
The first thing a leader needs to realize is that in order for people to be motivated, they need a sense of ownership. The best way for leaders to do this is by providing them with opportunities for empowerment.
Next, provide employees with incentives so they know what it means when they are successful. Employees are motivated when they know what is expected of them. In order to keep employees on track, provide incentives for meeting certain goals like a raise in pay, performance bonus, or gaining more responsibilities within the company.
Finally, leaders should make sure their employees have autonomy and authority over decision-making processes. This strategy not only makes them feel more valued but also allows a leader to take a step back so they can see things from another perspective.
These three strategies will help any company become more productive and profitable.
Leaders Must Create an Environment for Success
Leaders are responsible for their team's performance and they need to be aware of how their actions affect it. Leaders must have effective communication with employees, know when to take risks and when not to take them, and have appropriate expectations for both themselves and others. These qualities will help leaders create the right environment where everyone can succeed.
In addition, a great leader provides support to their team. If your team feels supported, they will be more inclined to take calculated risks that are in line with the company’s vision. Knowing that their manager will back them up, employees feel more invested in putting in the extra effort to achieve the vision.
Putting it All Together
To be a good leader, you need to embrace these 3 roles. As you have probably experienced already, leadership is multifaceted and complex but by understanding the basics of what it means to lead successfully, you can put yourself on the right path for success.
Our Essential Strategy approach and supporting toolkit of knowledge empower our clients to take control of these critical processes so that they support – not slow down – the business of achieving goals and delivering on mission. Explore what we have to offer.
