What three pieces of advice would you give a new leader?

A few months ago I posted a question on LinkedIn. The responses seemed to have a couple of common themes – communication, particularly listening and one of servant leadership. Servant Leadership is giving priority attention to the needs of their colleagues and those that they serve. Servant-Leaders are often seen as humble stewards of their organizational resources (human, financial, & physical).  Robert K. Greenleaf wrote an amazing book called Servant Leadership: A Journey into Legitimate Power and Greatness.  If the notion of servant leadership is intriguing please take a look at Greenleaf’s book.

I have blogged before about the idea that leaders and made and not born (with very few exceptions). So, in my own personal journey as I tried to improve my leadership skills I found the idea of servant leadership enthralling. So simple – take care of your people and they will take care of you. Take care of your resources and they will continue to produce for you.  

Markets are unstable, executive salaries continue to be based on some arbitrary figure which is not grounded in reality and trust in management is at an all time low. The average CEO in 2006 made 365 times the average worker in their organization. It is time to change this unhealthy approach.

I know for me, once I changed my approach, opened myself up to my employees and looked at my role differently then I was able to allow my employees to fly. I blocked and tackled and they scored the goals.

What about you? Do you expect your employees to follow you and demand respect because you have a title? Or, do you serve your employees and remove the barriers so that they can be successful? I propose the latter will help both you and your employees to be far more successful than you ever imagined. Your customers will notice a difference as well. Engaged employees create engaged customers.

Paul Claro

  • Communication – Make sure that you communicate with your subordinates whether it is good, bad, or indifferent.
  • Set the Proper Expectations – So that you do not set your subordinates up for failure, with failure comes resentment which leads to mistrust and the inability to manage properly.
  • Pay very close attention to detail so that nothing slips by.

Mark Roeske

  • Shut up and listen
  • Set the example
  • Embrace, communicate and present the vision so that others understand, believe and can do the same

David Javitch, PhD

  • Know what you want to accomplish
  • Know your people
  • Know how to make them successful

venkatakrishnan subramaniam

  • Honesty
  • Transparency
  • Trusting others

Vikas Kumar

remember a story…..be like an elephant…move in herd (take everyone along with you), Big ears (listen more), Long nose (poke around and learn as much as you can), comparatively small mouth (talk less); narrow eyes (be sharp); Big teeth (dig deeper)……..and on a lighter note – Big belly (you are allowed to eat more)! Cheers!!!

Lori Leavitt Evans

  • Integrity
  • Consistency
  • Clarity

Ravindra Dhapola

  • Listen, Listen, Listen
  • Be consistent
  • Develop people and get the best out of them
  • Look 3/4 years ahead

Javier Martin

Understand clearly what is your mission, why have you been elected for the job and what are your seniors ‘objectives… So your objectives are lined up with theirs!

(1)    BNET, In 2006 the average CEO pay was 364 times the average worker.

 Thank you for reading!

Julie