Some leaders develop relationships with their staffers and get good results.
Others are more businesslike, keeping personal lives to themselves, and that also works.
There’s no one-size-fits-all rulebook for leading people. But there are two indispensable traits that successful leaders show in spades:
- credibility, and
- communication skills.
1. Earning credibility
- When you make promises, deliver.
- Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Or promises that you’d like to keep, but can’t guarantee.
- Keep your word. That goes for projects you say you’ll handle, discussing a staffers’ problems, etc.
- Set high expectations for the job you do.
- Be the first person in the door each morning, and don’t be the first one out the door at the end of the day.
- Take the heat for team mistakes and share the praise with staff for jobs well done.
2. No communication breakdowns
- When you can share info that your peole care about, let them know. ASAP.
- Tell the truth, even when it might “bring people down” or hurt morale.
- Don’t vent about issues with clients, other departments, etc., with your staffers.
- Keep your door open. Closed doors make some people think you can’t be bothered. They can also make some people worry in this rough economy.
- Say “hello” first when you see staffers. That lets people know you’re up front and available to talk, any time.
