7 Secrets to Being a Leader as a Manager

Introduction

Being a leader in the workplace can be a daunting task. There is no reason to fear showing your true personality and character, as it will make you a more authentic leader. Here are some key tips to being an effective leader within your workplace: 

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Lead Your Employees By Example 

Don’t have expectations for your employees that you are unable to do yourself. If you expect certain behavior from your employees, hold yourself to the same standards. For instance, if your employees are facing workplace distractions that make you unhappy, don’t allow yourself to have the same distractions. Your employees are watching your behavior and workload, so model good behavior and habits to them to gain their trust and appreciation. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Be Yourself

Leaders don’t always have to be serious and strict. Let your true colors shine. Know when it is appropriate to add humor and fun activities to your workplace. Being an authentic leader means that you express your true personality and know how to make your core values shine in your leadership. This will create a style of leadership that is unique to you, instead of simply mimicking what you think leadership should look like. This authenticity will have a positive impact on the employees and encourage them to foster their own personalized leadership skills. 

Know How To Support Each of Your Employees

The best leaders are those who truly understand and know the individuals they are leading. This means you should go above and beyond to get to know your employees. Take note of their strengths and weaknesses. Learn what makes them feel appreciated. Understand how you can guide your employees to success in the workplace. Doing so will make your employees feel heard and understood. 

Make Information Transparent 

Any information that is not meant to be confidential in the workplace should be shared

with your employees. This allows the employees to find the resources they need and understand the bigger picture of the company. Moreover, this will make employees feel that you trust them, and the tension of unknown information can be limited within your workplace. 

Allow Other Team Members to Take the Lead 

It is important to share your authority with others when possible. For instance, it may be helpful for a team member to lead a specific project because of their expertise. Allow them to do so. Acknowledging when it is appropriate for others to show off their skills through leadership is critical to being an effective manager. 

Give Your Employees Necessary Feedback 

Being a strong leader is derived from the feedback you can give to others. This demonstrates your attention to their tasks and your willingness to take the time to find room for growth. ManageBetter's ReviewBuilder can help busy managers efficientlycreate performance reviews for their employees with over 3,000 curated phrases. Presenting a performance review or even quick feedback can help demonstrate your investment in each of your employees. 

Have a Shared Vision Within Your Team 

Although the company may have a particular vision, take time to create a unique and exclusive vision for your team. This vision can relate directly to your team’s purpose within the company. Doing so will unify your team under their job’s purpose and ultimately create a more driven team culture. 

Conclusion 

Managers can struggle with identifying ways to best lead their team and individual employees to grow. Take some time to reflect on how you can impact your team with your core values and authentic leadership. Acknowledge how you can spotlight your employee’s skills and allow them to lead in the workplace. Ultimately, take time to get to know each member of your team, so you are best able to lead in a way that encourages their success. 

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