Leadership Coaching -Leadership Quality

As in any other phase of work, there is always room for improvement and this is where Leadership Coaching can help. Unless of course, one considers themselves as knowing all  there is to know about leading others. It is said that no matter how well you feel you are doing, you are not going to be doing it right for everyone. All personalities do not match, not everyone is going to like you or the way you lead. There are precautions you can take though, to become a leader of choice.

It is not magical, it is work and if you love what you do; it will be easier day by day, when you start seeing results. It can be fun. One important thing to remember is; we are all human and "perfect" doesn't exist....everybody will screw up every now and then...even the boss!!!

Rule number one

Never believe you are worth more than the people who work for you. Arrogance is never acceptable in leadership or management. Seriously, one very important thing to remember is leaders; true leaders know they should never give the impression they know more than everybody else and only their opinion matters. It is never acceptable to talk down to anyone verbally or by expression. It is much more appropriate to be one of them, than to be an outsider.

Rule number two

While being one of them; never form too close of a relationship with any one or two members of the team and leave the others out. Taboo; never, ever do it. If you need to pal around with someone; pick another manager or someone from another team, not yours. This can be viewed negatively by the rest of the team. It is unprofessional and not acceptable. You can’t be a true leader and go to lunch with the same two individuals all the time. It doesn’t matter how long you have known Jim and Jane; it is better to include others also. You are in a position that you must be aware of other people’s feelings, and how they perceive you is how they will respond to you. You are the leader of all of them and it is your responsibility to make them all feel accepted.

Rule number three

It is never wise to judge a book by the cover. For instance, I am sure you have watched the TV series, “Ugly Betty” and there is nothing else to be said about this subject.

Any individual who has worked directly under another person knows that almost all individuals have good days and bad days. Few do not; but it is logic to believe most do. We all get up on the wrong side of the bed occasionally. Actually, however, these times should be very minimal and what’s wrong should never be brought to work; especially for the true Leadership Quality Professional.

Quality means: value, character, and distinction. These three words alone hold a lot of power. Coming in behind these three, are three more just as powerful: excellence, individuality and merit.

Value in leadership:

Value in anything is something that is worth something to someone else; not just to you. Value means that you are at a point in your career in which you are secure with whom you have become and now your job is to create value in your staff. When you have created value with your staff; you have become invaluable to the company. Why? Because when you have created a staff that can get the job done; efficiently, effectively and without argument, you are gold. What more would a company desire from their management officers. Wait a minute, sounds easy, doesn’t it?

Character:

Let’s break this down a little more. If you have gotten this far, you have undoubtedly worked on your own personal development. You have strength of character and you know who you are. You have in fact done something right, somewhere and someone noticed and allowed you to grow, therefore you will give another person a chance to show their strengths. You will let the most experienced people you have hired demonstrate their abilities without hovering over them and you will give your attention to the weaker ones who need help. You are not threatened by anyone else’s knowledge and in fact you thrive on their ability to grow professionally. You do not have to assign a keeper to anyone; they are focused on their work because you make them feel comfortable. You are also thrilled when you see someone has strength of character, and resilience because you know the worth of these qualities.

Distinctive:

You have become distinctive because you have built your leadership on fairness and equality. You realize that part of your leadership ability is to provide adequate training, even though it takes additional time. After all; you are the boss and your staff is only as good as their leader will help them and allow them to be. This might not always be easy; some people need more assistance than others. They may just need a chance to spread their wings or a little push; not a shove in the wrong direction from an insecure leader. Someone somewhere promoted you and gave you confidence; why not return the favor.

Individuality:

When you have Leadership Quality; individuality (uniqueness) actually this is all of the above. Some people think that management is play. It is not; it is hard work if you develop your staff into a group of performers. The better performance they give; the better you look and feel. Helping others produce quality work is not as easy as it sounds. Some people are easily trained and guided and other are not. Either you support your people or you lose them and thereby; you lose money, for the company. You know you are dealing with the lives of others who have just as many important things on their agenda as you. Kindness and understanding of life issues, is always acceptable. Your individuality means they you have conquered your ability to look not at what you can gain, specifically; but at what the company can gain from your leadership of others. When you are making a difference in other people’s lives and teaching others to produce only their best; it will bring results, for you, the company and the employee.

Merit and excellence

Is what you have earned by becoming distinctive (different) in your ability to manage and be a leader. You will be an asset to the company because you have demonstrated the ability to bring together people for success and profit. This also means that you have gotten results from your efforts of being the unusual boss who loves working with your people and making others successful. A manager who promotes others, provides adequate moral, praises exceptional work and is not afraid of work themselves; is what Leadership Quality is.