Tweet

Five Keys to Effective Leadership

Guest post by: Ed Teixeira

Article Overview: Whether you’re responsible for managing two people or twenty there are certain principles that effective managers must adhere to in order to be an effective leader. These principles or keys are rather straightforward and easy to remember. More importantly they should be easy to follow.

Five Keys to Effective Leadership

Whether you're responsible for managing two people or twenty there are certain principles that effective managers must adhere to in order to be an effective leader. These principles or keys are rather straightforward and easy to remember. More importantly they should be easy to follow. However, it's sometimes easy for a manager to neglect some or all of these for the sake of expediency. If you are responsible for managing people and you follow these five keys your job and the results of your subordinates will improve considerably.

1. Subordinates must understand their responsibilities and be equipped to do their job

It's very important that an employee fully understand what is expected of them. A number of companies use job descriptions to set forth the qualifications, duties and responsibilities for various positions. However, in most cases the job description gets put away in the bottom desk drawer. As a manager you must confirm that the people who report to you are thoroughly trained and well versed in their job. The greatest mistake a manager can make is to put a person in a job without proper training and preparation.

"People don't make mistakes on purpose" Ed Teixeira

2. Coaching employees is a critical step in the process and is related to number 3. A manager must be teacher, coach and problem solver.

Effective managers need to coach, especially given the fast pace of business and the need to stay competitive. Think about coaching in terms of working with your subordinates to teach and develop their skills and decision making. Anyone can review results and critique performance. Its take good coaching to get the most out of people.

"Make sure that team members know they are working with you, not for you."

John Wooden

3. Don't be quick to accept problems from the subordinate but rather teach and encourage them to arrive at a solution

"I've learned that mistakes can often be as good a teacher as success"

Jack Welch

4. Be consistent by treating all employees the same

"Don't measure busywork. Don't measure activity. Measure accomplishment. It doesn't matter what people do as much as it matters what they get done."

Larry Winget

5. Provide timely and honest feedback on job performance and reward or discipline based upon results

"Feedback is the breakfast of champions"

Ken Blanchard

Related Articles
  Is your leadership effective?
  Leadership Thrives in Any Economic Time - Part 2
  Integral Leadership - A Useful Model for Leadership Development
  7 Keys to B2B Social Media Success
  Reminders Put Your Keys in Your Fridge
  Succession Leadership is the Success Lynch Pin for Individuals, Businesses and Organizations
  Environmental Leadership Part 2
  Effective Leadership - What is the secret?
  Simple and Secure Passwords
  Find New Customers releases “7 Keys to B2B Marketing Success” - a new free "cheat sheet"
  Leadership Development is Key to Organizational Success
  These Keys Will Allow Anyone To Create Income At Home Online
  8 Keys To Right Thoughts And Right Results
  What is Leadership
  Twelve Strategic Leadership Actions To Fire Up Your Employees During Change
  4 Great “Cheat Sheets” on B2B demand generation from Find New Customers – no registration needed
  Leadership Development, the Key to Company Success
  Fugitive Information
  What Does Leadership Mean
  Leadership Skills

Article Tags: coaching, leadership



Related Forum Posts
Re: How do you back up your computer? - I am a backup-olic. I use several Disk-On-Keys and I also back up on a DVD.
Re: Business Women Peer Mentoring Spotlight - Hi Everyone, Gosh, I REALLY appreciate your concrete feedback. This was far more than I expected and I'm glad you said what you thought straight out. Each of you have shared something of value and I want to take some more time to think and really go over what each of you have said. However, I can see there are some things I need to change right away. What an interesting point about a NEW program perhaps making people think they are guinea pigs! This is NOT what I want to convey! It's funny how we can see some things so clearly in others while not always seeing it for ourselves! I must admit there are a few things I've been meaning to change (like my bio which is very outdated). Obviously, these things need to be higher on my priority list. You caught me like the plumber who puts his clients first and doesn't get around to fixing his own tap! As far as my target market, I do feel quite strongly about working with Women Leaders and doing Leadership Coaching with them. It's non-negotiable in my books. In my Executive Coaching training, the terms "Leaders" and "Executives" are interchangable. To me, an Executive is a Leader and so is the Business Woman or Entrepreneur who is CEO of her own business. I love working with decision makers! What I did learn is that I need to avoid opening up the Leadership term beyond what I described above. I'm also wondering if there is a misunderstanding with the general public as to what Leadership Coaching really is. Leadership Coaching is all about developing your leadership skills, both as a people manager and in more effectively running and growing the business. There is ALWAYS room for growth in some way. As well, sometimes, we just need a sounding board to clarify what our next BEST step is. In fact, if a woman thinks she has nothing to work on, then we aren't a good Client/Coach fit anyway. How can she grow if she doesn't see the value of expressing ALL of the great ability within her? How can her company grow if she doesn't see the value of strategic planning for the next best level? Thanks again to you all! I will go back to my website and really question whether I am conveying the right message. I got more than I bargained for in this Spotlight... you generously offered way more than I was asking. I think we could be on to something great for the Forum. Now it's time to let someone else have the spotlight. It would be great if everyone took a turn! In gratitude, Tami
Re: Has anyone a good idea to sort this problem? - HI Michelle....... Keys and cellphones always end up at the bottom of the purse! That happens to me and other woman most of the time, for sure. So I would say put it in the side zipper area inside of the purse. Most Purses have that compartment. That usually helps it separate from all the other bulky things we carry in our purses, like make-up- bag, day minders, hand santiizers (whatever!)
Re: 3 Ways I Used Twitter To Grow My Business This Week - Hi Olivia, It seems you are working in the area of leadership area. Is Leadership = Learning? I am looking for some good books on strategy? Which one do you recommend? Thanks, Robert
Re: Money Does Not Guarantee Happiness - Thanks for singling this point out, Chris. One book that comes to mind that covers it in an overall approach is "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. He addresses our inner life and the way it can change our effectiveness home and at work. There are corporations who have taken this model and effectively molded their business around it.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Work at Home Moms and Their Bad Rap?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.