You have reached a landmark in your career when you first move into a leadership role. Chances are that it is something that you have been working towards for a long period of time. The challenge having reached this landmark in your career is how to achieve long term sustained success.
Smart leaders recognise that achieving any kind of long term success depends on getting people to help you to deliver results consistently. So how do you go about getting others on board?
Tip 1: Be clear about the destination
The first vital step in getting others on side is having a very clear but simple message about the direction that you aspire to take the organisation. With any new leader people are understandably apprehensive about the future. Being able to articulate the overall goal is a vital starting point.
Tip 2: Be willing to listen
At the end of you day everyone realises that you have to way up all of the options and take a decision. After all this is what you are paid to do. At the same time, people like to have the opportunity to contribute their views and ideas so make a point of listening.
Tip 3: Articulate the benefits
If you are going to be making change people need to understand the benefits. What difference is it going to make are the changes going to make for:
• Individual employees
• Departments or functions
• Customers or service users
• Suppliers
• Shareholders or stakeholders
People and groups want to know that they will be contributing to making something better.
Tip 4: Don’t expect complete support
You might have heard the saying that turkeys don’t vote for Christmas. In any situation there will always be people who will always vote for the do nothing option. Accept this and don’t try to strong arm them into a particular way of thinking.
Tip 5: Promote the successes and the learning
Make a point of highlighting things that others have done that have worked out well. At the same time be willing to openly discuss what did not work out and what was learned. By adopting this approach you will encourage people to have a go and try to achieve.
Bottom Line – Always remember that to achieve success as a leader, you need to get others on board. So what do you need to start doing more to increase your chances of leadership success?
