Live My Life Online

I have been discussed about what traits leaders must have, how leaders inspire others, but as a leader, do we really know what the followers or sub-ordinates expect from their leader?

Of course, the followers or subordinates will do their jobs more effectively if they can expect a few things from their leader as well.

• Provide clarity of direction. If you are the leader, then your job is to communicate clearly where the business is going, why and what the outcome if we accomplish. You should provide update in term of direction and initiative from time to time, preferable on quarterly basis. Take for instance, if you show your staff who handle the company treasury function, he or she will have some perspective on why and to what degree cashflow is an issue, and better sense of how he or her job contributes to the organization as a whole.
• Set goals and objectives. A subordinate may assume he’s doing a good job, but he can’t know for sure what his or her boss would agree if he or she has no specific goals and objectives to strive for.
• Give frequent, specific and immediate feedback. For most organization, performance review will normally conduct at end of the year. But shouldn’t it better if employees learn how they are doing more frequently, especially if the feedback is going to help drive their growth. Be specific, “Great job” is as good as well done, keep up the good work etc. Employees could have done even better if you point out how and where he or she did well.
• Be decisive and timely. I hate someone who is indecisive, it create confusion, frustration and resentment ultimately. However, dicisiveness isn’t useful too if it is not on timely basis.
• Be accessible. If you expect people to keep you informed about what’s going on, then you need to be available when they need to see you. You know what, most people come to you not because of good news, but bad news. Most people can handle good news on their own, they only turn to you when they need some help.
• Demonstrate honesty and candor. People spend too much time figuring out how to tell others something unpleasant, ie. how to deliver the news in a diplomatic way. Masking the truth does not help people to develop.

So start from today, create a compact to your subordinates, team mates, followers and demonstrate by examples.

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