A key aspect of being a successful leader is to understand yourself and your strengths. Self-awareness is a key attribute for people to recognise what gives them the energy and motivation to achieve a high performance in their work.
It does not necessarily mean that they are not so good at the parts of their job that do not generate the same passion but it probably means they have to work that little bit harder to achieve the level of performance that is expected.
As a co-author of two books on Talent Management I have been able to share my passion on an aspect of HR that I believe is at the very centre of all people related activities. My first book, 'Make Your People Before Making Your Products' (published in 2014 by Wiley's) focuses on the belief that everyone has talent and by placing the right person in the right role is of a great benefit to both the organisation and the individual.
The second book 'Inclusive Talent Management' (published in July 2016 by Kogan Page) emphasises the importance of diversity and inclusion under-pinning all decisions related to talent strategies as a business imperative.
It was during my 21 years working for Panasonic (I left corporate life in April 2013) that I realised that having a homogenous culture leads to group think and an environment where those in leadership roles are respected to the point that staff do not feel confident to challenge their bosses.
In the leadership programmes I deliver I therefore focus on these themes of identifying and leveraging the talent organisations have and recognising the benefits of a diverse workforce.
What does it take to be a successful leader?
To be a successful leader it is necessary to have a flexible approach depending on the situation you find yourself in. At times you need to be directive but also it may be more important to adopt a more coaching or delegating style. Other topics in the programme include:
- Leading change
- How to communicate your vision
- Learning the skills of being an effective coach.
The recent decision on Brexit and the outcome of the US election have highlighted the fact that effective leaders understand the needs and aspirations of their staff.
Having a clear message that resonates with people and one they believe in will win their support and in the context of organisations will play a key part in key staff being retained.
Once people feel valued and their contribution is appreciated than their performance is likely to increase. The differentiating factor between organisations is often the quality of their staff coupled with the effectiveness of their leaders.
There are many factors that contribute in creating an effective and strong leader. If you'd like to learn how, then enrol now onto the IDM Innovate You: Become a Modern Marketing Leader course. Designed for those who are seeking to gain or develop skills to deal with the complex nature of business leadership.
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