Xenonex talks about the importance of Inspirational Leadership
At Xenonex, we work across both the Public and private sector, and with a diverse range of teams and individuals. However, the subject of Inspirational Leadership transcends across all organisations and remains at the very core of our programme delivery.
The best managers are always those who have the ability to lead their team by personal example. It is one of the hardest skills to master - but get it right and the results will be well worth all the effort. James Caan, serial entrepreneur, assumes a pragmatic view on inspirational leadership here.
When you look at a team or a group from the outside it’s easy to spot the difference between an inspirational leader and one who has to rely on using strong-arm tactics.If a manager is constantly having to check on people’s work and is chasing his or her staff, then it is a sure sign that something is going wrong.
A good manager will have a fully committed group of people behind him or her who understand the importance of working together as a unit towards a shared goal and aims. To get to that position the very best managers need to be able to inspire those around them and the only way to do that is to lead to by example.
In any walk of life and in any sector one of the first things a good manager should do is to demonstrate that they fully understand the skills and expertise needed to carry out the work. That is not the same as the manager rolling up their sleeves and doing the task themselves, it’s simply about fully understanding the work and how people should go about it.
Secondly, the best leaders will expect commitment and hard work from their staff but they also have to demonstrate the same level of dedication. If you are expecting people to go that extra mile for you then you have to be with them every step of way.
Good communication should also be at the heart of everything a good manager does. The very best leaders are the ones who can describe clearly to their team members exactly what is expected from them. Communication is always a two way process which means as well as expressing yourself, if you want to win over staff then you have to be able to listen to people and take on board their views and opinions.
For a team to function properly everyone needs to know they will receive the same kind of treatment. There should always be a level playing field, and if you have favourites then you will be asking for trouble and cannot expect any kind of loyalty in return.
Finally and perhaps most importantly of all, one of the key qualities when it comes to leadership is the ability to be decisive under pressure. Leadership is all about making decisions and sticking to those decisions. When a crisis comes along one of the worst things you can do is doing nothing at all.
Inspiration is not all about making great speeches and being a tough taskmaster. It is more about leading from the front and showing your true mettle when it matters the most.
For more information on Executive Coaching & Mentoring please contact Liz Hines, Business Manager on 0113 322 9234 or 01423 876371 or email liz.hines@xenonex.co.uk or visitacademy.xenonex.co.uk.