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5 Practical Leadership Development Strategies That Work

Session 3: Senior Leadership Program: Customer Focus & Accountability

Look at the impact of poor leadership behaviours. [_One in two (50%) people state_](https://www.zippia.com/advice/leadership-statistics/) that they’ve left a job at some point to get away from a bad manager. That's half a workforce wasted.

Conversely, great leadership creates a [_positive workplace culture_](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/blog/improveworkplaceculture) where employees are psychologically safe, productive and empowered to do their best work. Great leaders not only positively influence their team members, but their company as a whole.

[\*\*﻿Free Download\*\* : 10 Leadership Qualities That Will Help Solve Challenges in 2024](https://thegrowthfaculty.ac-page.com/leadershipqualities)

But to foster great leadership, coach Kylee Stone notes that we **first** need to focus on empowering new and emerging leaders.

(See Kylee Stone’s [_Emerging Leaders Program_](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/event.php?eventId=a1J9g000000QkkpEAC) summaries of Module 1 '[Understanding the Foundations of Leadership](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/blog/ELPfoundationsofleadership)' and Module 2 '[Understanding the Importance of Purpose](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/blog/importanceofpurposeinleadership)') 

Here we look at what makes a great leader, and helpful tips for current and future leaders to develop their ‘X Factor’.

**The 5 Pillars Of Great Leadership**

_“A leader is anyone willing to take responsibility for finding the potential in themselves, others and ideas, and has the courage to develop that potential.”_ - Kylee Stone

We’ve all worked under a bad boss at some point in our career. Their poor communication skills, endless micromanagement and a lack of employee and customer focus suck the enjoyment out of work.

On the other hand, a great leader brings stability and direction to the workplace. They carry out organisational objectives with a clear vision and purpose and display the characteristics of what Jim Collins calls [_‘a level 5 leader’._](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/blog/levelfiveleadership) These characteristics include:

**1\. Integrity**

_“Level 5 leaders are those who exhibit a combination of strong personal humility and professional will”_ - Jim Collins.

[Purpose driven leaders](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/blog/purposefulleadership) adhere to a strong moral compass and make decisions that align with their values and the greater good. They’re honest, transparent, fair and committed to **doing what’s right**, even if it’s not the popular opinion.

When people perceive their leader as someone who consistently acts with integrity, they’re more likely to have faith in their decisions and follow their lead. On the other hand, a leader who lacks integrity will act inconsistently, resist accountability and may abuse their position of power, making it hard for others to trust them.

**2\. Self-Awareness**

_“Without emotional intelligence, a person can have the best training in the world, an incisive, analytical mind and an endless supply of smart ideas, but he still won’t make a great leader”_ - Daniel Goleman.

A self-aware leader is someone who understands their strengths, weaknesses and motivations. They have a high level of [_emotional intelligence_](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/blog/emotionalintelligence) and are able to understand and **manage their emotions** and those of others, particularly in challenging situations.

When a leader is self-aware, they align their words with actions and aren’t afraid to hold themselves and their team accountable. This fosters a [_culture of accountability_](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/blog/accountabilityproductivity) and continuous improvement.

Self-aware leaders are also able to recognise when their current strategies or approaches are not working, and adapt their behaviours and processes accordingly.

**3\. Communication**

_“Leaders must shape and communicate a strong overarching story that brings together all the people involved and unites them in a common purpose”_ - Lucinda Holdforth.

Strong leadership and quality communication go hand in hand. You can be the most charismatic, well-respected individual, but you’ll fail to be a good leader if you can’t communicate clearly and effectively with your team.

A great leader clearly **communicates their vision**, **expectations and ideas** to their team in a genuine way. They listen actively and provide constructive feedback, creating open communication channels within their department and the organisation as a whole.

In his book _‘The Motive’_ , Patrick Lencioni highlights that great, responsibility-centred leaders recognise being a good communicator means not avoiding tough conversations; _“It’s very understandable that human beings don’t want to have difficult and uncomfortable conversations, but when a leader falls prey to this, it’s very dangerous,_ ” Lencioni says.

As a leader, you need to uphold clear, honest communication with your team, or you can’t expect them to do the same.

**4\. Empathy & Respect**

_“Empathy is a choice, and it’s a vulnerable one”_ - Dr Brené Brown.

In today’s ever-changing, stressful work environments, empathy is an essential skill for strong leaders. Renowned researcher and author Brené Brown emphasises that to [_attract and retain top talent_](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/blog/staffretentionstrategies) , leaders need to be tuned into people’s temperament and well-being.

Rather than focusing solely on business outcomes, empathic leaders take the time to understand the emotions, perspectives and needs of those around them. In turn, they’re more likely to **create meaningful connections**, establish trust, offer assistance and understand the requirements of their employees.

In times of change or uncertainty, empathetic leaders are better equipped to guide their teams through transitions. They recognise the emotional impact of change and provide support and reassurance to employees, fostering a [_psychologically safe workplace_](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/blog/psychologicallysafeworkplaces). Taking into consideration the thoughts and feelings of all parties, empathetic leaders also comfortably navigate disagreements and disputes.

**5\. Gratitude**

Leaders who reward and recognise the efforts of their team are more likely to notice a positive impact on team dynamics, employee motivation and organisational success. In fact, over [_80% of employees_](https://www.glassdoor.com/employers/blog/employers-to-retain-half-of-their-employees-longer-if-bosses-showed-more-appreciation-glassdoor-survey/) are **willing to work harder** for a boss who **shows appreciation** for their efforts.

As a leader, you need to get into the habit of frequently acknowledging and appreciating the contributions of your team members. Publicly celebrate their efforts, provide constructive feedback and recognise their achievements to foster a positive atmosphere.

When you [_lead with gratitude_](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/blog/leadingwithgratitudeeltongostick) , it motivates your employees to work just as hard (if not harder) to achieve the same result again. This will naturally cultivate lower stress levels and higher job satisfaction.

**4 Tips To Become A Better Leader**

Most of us aren’t born with a natural affinity for leadership. Rather, [_studies show_](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141006133228.htm) that leadership skills are **30% genetic and 70% learned**.

So, here’s 4 tips emerging leaders can adopt to help develop and refine their leadership skills:

**1\. Listen Actively**

_“You can’t be coach like if you’re not being curious”_ - Michael Bungay Stanier.

In his [_interview with The Growth Faculty_](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/blog/GREATIDEASTheCoachingHabitbyMichaelBungayStanier) , Michael Bungay Stanier highlights that many leaders **stop** listening once an idea pops into their head. Instead of blurting out your idea, Stanier notes that we need to learn to tame our ‘advice monster’ and **stay curious a little longer** by asking more questions.

He says active listeners use small words of encouragement, such as _uh-huh, yes, nice, great, lovely, excellent, right, spot-on_. They look for opportunities to use _“we”_ and _“us”_ where appropriate and importantly, Michael says, they acknowledge how the speaker might be feeling. It can be a simple phrase like _“That sounds hard/difficult/exciting.”_

**2\. Encourage Feedback**

The saying goes for both leaders and employees, without feedback we **cannot expect to improve**.

Leaders need to be comfortable asking employees for feedback on their leadership style and approach. Your team can offer valuable insight into what’s working, what’s not, and what obstacles you need to overcome to become a better leader.

Leaders also need to be comfortable providing direct, **honest feedback** to their team, whether it’s positive or negative. Without it, employees won’t know what you truly think about them and their work, and they will never be able to improve.

As Patrick Lencioni notes, _“You need to recognise that ultimately that’s an act of selfishness because you’re depriving the person that works with you of the truth that can make them better.”_

**3\. Understand Your Motivations**

> _“Be clear about the sense of purpose that drives you – it should be written down and carried with you day by day.”_ - Juila Gillard

You can’t expect to motivate employees if you’re not motivated yourself. So, you first need to understand your [_leadership style_](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/blog/leadershipstyles) and what motivates you to do your best work. Kylee Stone notes that knowing your **vision, values and purpose** is the foundation for [_purposeful leadership_](https://www.thegrowthfaculty.com/blog/purposefulleadership).

Motivated leaders are goal-orientated, disciplined and committed to the cause. They’re passionate about their work and aren’t afraid to go the extra mile to achieve a certain outcome - and this has a flow on effect to your employees.

**4\. Never Stop Learning**

Great leaders understand that leadership is a **continuous learning process** rather than a destination. They constantly seek new learning and development opportunities to expand their skill set, knowledge and perspectives to stay current and better adapt to new challenges.

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5 Pillars of Great Leadership: Key Traits & Strategies For Success

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5 Pillars of Great Leadership: Key Traits & Strategies For Success

Discover the pillars of great leadership in the modern workplace.

Keep informedStay Inspired

Keep informed
Stay Inspired