The 5 Golden Rules of Leading
If you are in or close to a leadership role you are clearly very good at what you do. At the same time most will tell you that making the move in to leading is one the most challenging times in your career.
When you are on the outside looking in, it can appear to be pretty similar to what you are doing as a manager. In reality it is very different.
So what are the 5 golden rules of leading?
Rule 1: Know Yourself
There are things that you are going to do exceptionally well, things that you do competently and things that you struggle with. Having clarity in each of these areas means that you can focus on what you do best.
Rule 2: Build A Great Team Around You
Successful leaders understand that it is not individuals but teams of people work together effectively that deliver results. You want to have people on your team who are at least as good as you or better than you. This will keep you on your toes and give you the confidence to trust others.
Rule 3: Listen More Than You Speak
People want to be heard, to make their contribution so you have to be willing to listen. Most leaders do a great job at communicating in writing and verbally. On the other hand those who are great listeners tend to be in the minority.
Rule 4: Only Promise What You Will Deliver
It is easy to over promise and under deliver. Aim to only promise what you have a high degree of likelihood of delivering.
Rule 5: Don’t Make Change For The Sake Of It
Of course you want to keep moving the organisation or your function forward. This is important. At the same time you don’t just want to make change to be seen to be doing something. It is much better to focus on making high impact changes.
The Bottom Line: Leading is challenging and you can lead in a way that enhances your chances of success.
Duncan Brodie helps accountants and professionals achieve more career success by helping them to make the transition from technical expert to effective leader. He invites you to take advantage of his free audio e-course.
About the Author Duncan Brodie
Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.