Leadership Qualities to Prioritize

Running a business calls upon a wide range of skills. When a leader wants to ensure the continued success of their business, they must adapt to changes along the way. Modern leadership embraces a new set of qualities that puts people first. Business leaders worldwide are finding these ideas beneficial.

Slowing Down

When in the midst of doing business, it usually feels necessary to always go “full speed ahead” to accomplish everything you set out to do. This is often not a prudent or sustainable choice. It can inadvertently cause chaos or confusion among employees. Making every decision as though they were all emergencies is exhausting and may lead to impulsive, suboptimal choices. Take time to do risk/benefit analysis. Be patient and don’t make choices out of strong emotions. Ensure you allow yourself time to check in with others and get input on important decisions. Getting multiple perspectives will allow wiser, more beneficial choices than rushing and impulse will.

Giving Feedback

Employees being able to trust their managers is an undeniable asset in any business. It may even improve employee retention levels. Consider training management in productively navigating conflicts and giving feedback to employees. Workplace morale is a vital yet often underappreciated aspect of a thriving business. When employees feel safe to take risks and keep learning and growing, they will become better and help everyone around them be better as well. Proper interpersonal communication, including feedback, is integral to this process.

Leading With Compassion

A true leader is able to tap into their fundamental humanity. They will extend empathy, love, and compassion to those they lead. Empathy includes understanding and valuing each person’s individual story, challenges, skills, and contributions. Effective, modern leaders support their employees. They don’t rely on things like control, fear, and selfishness anymore. Treating people well causes a ripple effect. It empowers employees to help themselves and each other. This confidence and positive way of interacting inevitably gets passed on to the customers and clients. Not only does leading with love and empathy help businesses stay profitable and thriving, it greatly reduces employee stress, anxiety, and suffering along the way. Treating people well is rewarded exponentially.

Originally published at https://duanegafoor.com on August 23, 2021.