6 ways to be a successful leader

Posted by Elliot Dean on October 25th, 2019

Successful leaders are far more than managers or CEOs, they are individuals who know how to seize opportunities and rally their employees, driving their business forward to achieve and surpass their goals. Successful leaders inspire their employees with their self-assurance, charisma and enthusiasm, and whilst it may at first appear that they must have some natural born talent to become so successful, more often than not they have learnt these skills through hard work and tenacity.

So if you want to be a successful leader, whether in your own business or as a senior staff member in someone else’s company, here are 6 ways you can achieve your goal.

1.    Create an environment of trust

If you manage a team of people, you need engagement and loyalty from each person, and the way to achieve this goal is to create an atmosphere of trust. The best way to promote trust is to always be honest, helpful and interested in your staff, whether you are discussing new ideas or chatting over lunch. We all know that trust must be earned, so if you treat your staff with respect, they will quickly learn that you have leadership qualities.

2.    Learn how to delegate and prioritise tasks

Your team will look to you for leadership, so they need to know what tasks are important, rather than getting caught up in less important details. It’s your job to know the strengths and weaknesses of all members in your team, delegating tasks according to these characteristics. This is because people are far more productive and happy when they work on projects that they enjoy. Successful leaders are able to keep their staff engaged and happy in their work.

3.    Encourage communication, monitor performance and give feedback

Successful leaders maintain an open line of communication with their team, whilst monitoring their performance and providing constructive feedback. It’s in this type of environment, when everyone is working towards a common goal, that the benefit of open communication, performance management and constructive feedback can create ground-breaking solutions to everyday problems. If your staff aren’t afraid to ask questions, voice concerns and receive feedback on their efforts, they will be more successful and happier in their work.

4.    Portray a confident and successful image

You may have heard the saying “image is everything” and when it comes to being a successful leader, it’s definitely a major part. Looking the part helps you demand respect but you need to make sure your attire appropriately matches the niche you are leading. Personal Branding Consultant Briony Croft is an expert in helping leaders dress well, and ensure they portray the correct image. Her team also ensures that images used online are consistent and tell a unique story about you as a person and a leader. 

5.    Actively listening to your staff

Actually listening to your staff is one of the best leadership qualities you can cultivate, because staff who know they have been heard and understood are far more loyal and productive than those who feel ignored. This means that you need to focus on the person who is talking to you, listen to what they have to say, encourage them to expand on certain points, and reach a point where you understand their point of view.

6.    Encourage greatness in others

Successful leaders encourage their staff to achieve greatness themselves, helping them to make decisions and to be accountable for the consequences of their actions. There are many ways to inspire your staff. You are essentially empowering your staff to be the best they can be, understanding their own strengths and weaknesses, whilst working in an environment that encourages them to succeed.

At the end of the day, successful leaders don’t push from the back, they lead from the front!