LES LEADERS (2024)

FAQs

Do leaders have all the answers? ›

Your job as a leader is not to have all the answers. Your job is to build strong teams and - together with your strong teams - find a way, show the way, and go the way.

Good Enough leadership is based on empowerment and facilitation rather than control. Instead of a laissez-faire orientation, Good Enough is about respect and humility. It is a subtle yet powerful concept.

Trait theories. Behavioral theories. Contingency theories. Power and influence theories.

Understanding the four most common leadership styles — Authoritarian, Democratic, Laissez Faire, and Coaching — is a significant first step. Each of these styles requires different approaches that prioritise varying factors.

Research from the Corporate Executive Board estimates that 50% to 70% of executives fail within 18 months of being promoted, regardless of whether they were an external hire or promoted from within. One reason — they're not prepared to handle their new role.

Rule 1: Lead by Example

You cannot expect of others what you would not expect of yourself. If you expect others to work long hours, you need to work longer. If you expect others to meet deadlines, you need to meet them yourself, and so on.

So, what's the answer? Both – some people are born with innate qualities that predispose them to be leaders, and other people, while not naturally gifted with leadership ability can acquire it. Moreover, all leaders, born or made, can improve their ability with desire, experience, and effort.

With self-awareness, communication, influence, and learning agility as the core of your leadership skills development, you can be confident that you're building capacity for new opportunities and the next level of responsibility — because these 4 are core leadership skills needed for everyone, and every career stage.

What are the four 4 traits of successful leadership? ›

“A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.” “A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, a little less than his share of the credit.” “The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.” “A leader is a dealer in hope.”

In 1939, psychologist Kurt Lewin and a team of researchers determined that there were three basic leadership styles: Authoritarian (Autocratic), Participative (Democratic) and Delegative (Laissez-Faire).

However, as a leader, your job is ultimately to provide your team with direction. So even if you don't have all the answers, it is incumbent on you to quickly assess changes or situations, figure out the answers and communicate them to your team.

Leaders everywhere are naturally expected to have all the answers. Unfortunately, this is one of the long standing myths of management. While the expectation is for you to know all the answers and you feel like you should have all the answers all the time it just isn't sustainable.

The most effective leaders I know have grounded confidence despite not knowing everything. They lead from a place of humility, integrity, and learning.

We make mistakes all the time (everyone does). But the best people – the best leaders – learn from them. Great leaders also admit when they've made mistakes. Contrary to a widespread belief among managers, bosses, and leaders of all stripes, admitting your mistakes strengthens your position in so many ways.