Anybody can be a leader. Leaders are not born, they are
made by choices and by circumstances. Leadership is all about influence, serving others, and people building.
"The one who serves you best will be your leader."
Luke 22:26
Effective leaders perform these essential skills:
1.
GIVES EXAMPLES
Effective leaders can only take people to where they have gone themselves. Leaders model and lead by example. In the hospitality industry, leaders model how employees treat and interact with guests and co-workers and the expectations in performing their job responsibilities.
2.
CHALLENGE PEOPLE TO A GREATER PURPOSE
Leaders help people to see and think beyond themselves, and to
get a cause greater then themselves. People need to be challenged and can only grow when they are challenged. People hunger for a higher purpose.
How to challenge people:
- Challenge priorities
- Challenge them to do something that seems
impossible
- Challenge small thinking, expand the vision.
3.
AFFIRM PEOPLE FOR THEIR POTENTIAL
Leaders bring out the best in people by affirming their potential, this is important because it gives people courage. You can
affirm people by looking them in the eye and listening which lets people know that they are
important and expresses value when
you pay attention.
Effective leaders are not in a hurry and don't blow past people, they take the time to pay attention. They see people not the way they are but the way they want them to become. They don't tell people like it is, instead they tell them like it could be. They encourage
people regularly. Encouragement should be real, not fake, or manipulative. It also helps if it is written, never underestimate the power of a simple little note. Effective leaders also explain why things are done a certain way and are open to input.
4.
TRUST PEOPLE WITH RESPONSIBILITY
People respond to responsibility and tend to live up to
responsibility. Effective leaders allow people to fail. Failure is a part of life and people
learn from their failures. Failure isn't fatal. Trust people with to
much, not to little.
5.
GIVE HONEST FEEDBACK
Effective leaders follow a negative with a positive. Correct instruct, don't do it this way, instead do it this way.
The right feedback builds up people, the wrong feedback can destroy them. Correct
without condemning. Check your motive, never correct in anger. Affirm the
person, correct the behavior. Watch your words as you give it, don't use
harmful words but words that help to build up.
6.
TREAT OTHERS AS EQUALS
Effective leaders accept the blame and share the credit.
Effective leaders share similiar characteristics. These are:
Effective leaders perform these essential skills:
How to challenge people:
- Challenge priorities
- Challenge them to do something that seems impossible
- Challenge small thinking, expand the vision.
Effective leaders are not in a hurry and don't blow past people, they take the time to pay attention. They see people not the way they are but the way they want them to become. They don't tell people like it is, instead they tell them like it could be. They encourage people regularly. Encouragement should be real, not fake, or manipulative. It also helps if it is written, never underestimate the power of a simple little note. Effective leaders also explain why things are done a certain way and are open to input.
- Honesty - Display sincerity and integrity in all actions. Deceptive behavior will not inspire trust.
- Competent - Actions should be based on reason and moral principles and do not make decisions based on emotional desires or feelings.
- Forward-looking - Set goals and have a vision of the future that reflects the culture of the organization. Effective leaders envision what they want and how to get it.
- Inspiring - Inspire others to reach for new heights.
- Intelligent - Read, study, and seek challenging assignments.
- Fair-minded - Show fair treatment to all people. Prejudice is the enemy of justice. Display empathy by being sensitive to the feelings, values, interests, and well-being of others.
- Broad-minded - Seek out diversity.
- Courageous - Have the perseverance to accomplish a goal, regardless of the seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Display a confident calmness when under stress.
- Straightforward - Use sound judgment to make good timely decisions.
- Imaginative - Make timely and appropriate changes in your thinking, plans, and methods. Show creativity by thinking of new and better goals, ideas, and solutions to problems. Be innovative!
