Top Tips to Becoming a Better Leader

Being a an effective, inspiring and well-respected leader isn’t easy.  There are actionable ways you can be a better leader for your people and company.  While some of these tips may serve as important reminders, others you may never have considered before.  Keep an open mind and test out what works best for your style.

 

Lead by example

Leaders need to show, not just tell. If you want your employees to be punctual, make sure you are on time. If professionalism is a priority, treat everyone you interact with courtesy. Set the tone for your employees.

Humility can go a long way

A true leader shares the spotlight and is comfortable crediting others. While it might seem counterintuitive, being humble takes more confidence than basking in glory. Your employees will appreciate it and rise to the occasion.

Communicate Effectively

Great leaders make sure they are heard and understood, but they also know the importance of listening. Communication is a two-way street.

Keep meetings productive

Time is money, so limit the time wasters during meetings. Meet about necessary items and prepare an agenda ahead of time.

Find a good mentor.

The best leaders know when they need help and know where to turn to in order to get it. Nobody can know everything, so finding someone you trust for advice when things get tough can make all of the difference.

Be emotionally aware

Business is ultimately about relationships between people. To make these relationships last, you need to be emotionally intelligent. Use your head to do what’s best for the company, but don’t forget to have a heart.

Learn from the past

Think about what the people you admire do well and consider what went wrong for others that ended with unsuccessful careers.  Lessons can be found everywhere.

Never stop improving

Great leaders are constantly learning and trying to improve themselves. There’s always something that you can work on or a new skill to master. Be sure to keep your mind open to new ideas and possibilities.

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Need More Optimism in Your Life? Read On.

Is the water in your glass half-full or half-empty?  It’s as full as you believe it to be.  Your perceptions impact the way you interact with the world around you and determine if you are an optimist or a pessimist.

Did you know you can cultivate optimism?  Even though it is a personality trait, it is a skill that can be learned.  The first step is wanting to be optimistic.  If you are not motivated to adjust any thoughts or behaviors, nothing will change.

 

Why Learning Optimism is Important

Numerous experiments and studies show that optimists do better in school and work.  Overall, they generally age well and evidence suggests that they can even live longer.  Additionally, pessimists often get caught up in the idea of perfection, worry and get stuck.

As you are cultivating optimism, keep your feet on the ground.  Being overly optimistic can be just as unhealthy as being pessimistic.  It can cause you to make decisions based on a false sense of reality.  The end goal is to become or remain optimistic while striving to maintain a balanced reality.

 

Ways to Cultivate Optimism Now

Focus on the present moment

It’s easy to zero in on the past or worry about the future.  Instead, develop mindfulness in all your activities.

Look inside

Too often, people think happiness needs to come from an external source.  Finding a better job, a new house, affording a nicer car, etc.  Instead, the state of happiness really comes from being, not having.

Develop gratitude

Take note of all the good going on in your life right now.  When you focus on this positive mindset, optimism will come naturally.

Be kind to others

You can think of optimism as having a boomerang effect.  When you donate to a cause or do a kind gesture for a neighbor, you also benefit by what’s called a “helper’s high”.

Change your words

Reworking your thoughts puts things in a new perspective.  When you notice a pessimistic thought, take a moment and stop.  Think about how you can somehow make that scenario a positive one.  Another example is paying close attention to your words.  For example, instead of saying, “failure”, change it to “learning experience”.

Create short, powerful statements that can be used to remind yourself to be positive and persevere.  What sparks optimistic thoughts for you?  Keep a reminder of that handy.

 

Using these simple ideas to cultivate optimism will take practice.  Before you know it, though, you will be an optimist.

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