Building an Ownership Culture

 

As much as all of us aim for perfection and to never have anything go wrong, as a leader, you’re going to make mistakes. It isn’t the mistakes themselves that are terrible, it is how they are handled typically. Taking ownership for your mistakes is a key leadership distinction.

Blaming others, justifying your actions or pretending like mistakes never happened erodes trust among your team and will discourage them from being accountable for their own mistakes. Great leaders take more than their share of blame and less than their share of credit, which creates an organizational culture of accountability, trust, empathy and humility. 

When you’re accountable, you can also hold your team accountable for their actions, ultimately creating a sense of responsibility that will keep them continually striving for their personal – and your business’ – goals.

As surprising as this may seem, the logic is straightforward. When you want to connect with someone, having empathy allows you to discern whether you’ve gotten your message across. When you’re able to see another person’s perspective, you’re able to predict the effect your words and actions will have on them.

Without empathy, the reverse happens and you risk alienating the very people you’re attempting to create connections with, whether they’re your customers, employees, colleagues or competitors. Cultivating empathy is the precursor to almost every other soft skill required for leadership, from self-awareness to critical thinking.

Powerful leaders have a clear sense of purpose and are able to take their teams in the right direction.

Additionally, as they lead their group, they utilize strong leadership qualities to create a supportive sense of community for all who are involved. Becoming an empowering leader is about not only creating something that’s better for the group, but encouraging those around you to embrace their strong leadership attributes as well.

Best, 

Manal

What Does Honest & Postive Leadership Look Like?

 

What has your experience with leaders been? They say more people leave their jobs because of leadership than any other reason. 

Many people believe that successful leaders are inherently dishonest, but strong leaders treat others just as they expect to be treated – in an honest fashion. Being honest is not only one of the leadership qualities that will allow you to lead your business with integrity, but it’s the only real way to make strong connections with others. Whether you’re leading your business or your family, the truth is that every single person you interact with looks to your own honesty and code of ethics to set their own bar.

Make sure each member of your team knows what your culture and core expectations are, and show them how much you value honesty in your everyday interactions with others by setting a valuable example. Don’t sugarcoat information, but find a way to deliver honest comments and feedback in a direct and compassionate manner.

You can be both honest and positive with your feedback. 

One of the top leadership qualities of truly great leaders is a sense of abundant positivity that energizes everyone in the room. It’s not that true leaders never have moments of frustration or disappointment, but that they’re able to take a positive approach to tackle challenging issues. Inspiring leaders know how to turn setbacks into successes and make a point to display optimistic leadership attributes on a daily basis.

Choose empowering beliefs that will propel you forward, not negative thought patterns that will weigh you down. Seeing challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles is one of the most important qualities of a good leader. When you practice positive thinking, it becomes a powerful cognitive habit and allows you to reassure and elevate those around you.

Best, 

Manal

Focus on What You Really Want

 

Have you learned how to really focus on what you want?

Those who embody strong leadership qualities keep their eye on the prize. They are very organized and plan ahead while still remaining flexible enough to handle unexpected challenges. Like a grandmaster in a chess game, a good leader thinks out each strategy and understands how each action will affect the rest of any given scenario.

Distractions can be one of your biggest business saboteurs, but those who display strong leadership attributes don’t let them intrude. Focus is a key leadership quality. Limit distractions by creating an environment that is conducive to focus. 

For example, your office can have an open door policy between certain hours so your team can freely communicate, but make it known that you will not be as available during your “focus times.” This helps you get deeper into your work without having to deal with the many moving parts of your business.

Most leaders didn’t get where they are because they were born with innate leadership qualities. Becoming a leader doesn’t always come naturally. You must be willing to embrace a growth mindset, develop your skills, work on your weaknesses and challenge yourself daily. You must be willing to do your best and fail – then get back up and fail again.

This inner strength comes from realizing that life happens for you, not to you. Everything you experience can teach you something if you let it. Learn how to find the lesson in all of life’s events, take it to heart, and get back out there. You’ll inspire others to do the same.

Best, 

Manal

2 Attributes of the Art & Skill of Leadership

Leadership has both an art and a skill to it. Everyone can learn the skills but the art of leadership takes time, finesse, and practice.

We are going to take a look at some of the key characteristics of a leader that has both art and skill. Today, we’ll look at two characteristics: confidence and vision.

True leaders are confident and know they can think – and act – outside the box to take their companies to the next level. They know that leadership qualities like openness, emotional agility, and resourcefulness are often more important than being able to make a sale or wow a group of investors.

How does one display the confidence necessary to be a good leader? More than half of human communication comes from nonverbal cues. Know how to set the right tone as a leader by letting your confidence show. Confident leaders win over and inspire others because everyone else wants to embody confidence, too. Practice strong nonverbal communication by standing tall, making eye contact, and learning to control your fidgeting. When you appear confident – even if you don’t feel confident – others will be more likely to follow your lead and believe in your authority.

Think of some of the world’s greatest leaders: Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela. Mother Teresa. Each of them had very different leadership attributes, but they all had one thing in common: a powerful vision not only for their own lives but for the world. They had an unstoppable belief in themselves and in their dreams.

This type of vision can only come from having a purpose that is so crystal-clear, that others see it too. A purpose that gives your life meaning and leaves you feeling fulfilled. One that is so strong you inspire others to join you. Having a clear purpose allows you to not only achieve your goals but to foster leadership among your staff as well.

Best, 

Manal