6 Principles to Effective, Systemic Leadership 🧠 - How to Lead with A Clear Vision

In any organization, leadership is a key factor in how well it performs. The right leader can make all the difference to how effective and successful the organization is. That said, what makes for good leadership? Leadership is about so much more than just being at the top of an organization and issuing orders. Great leaders inspire their team to be better than they would be without them. They empower their people to use their potential and take on new challenges with confidence. But what does this mean in practice? Here are six principles of effective, systemic leadership that will help you lead better...

Be a role model

One of the main reasons people follow leaders is because they want to emulate them. The more you lead by example, the more effective your influence. If you want your team to be innovative, be innovative yourself. If you want your team to be customer-oriented, be customer-oriented yourself. If you want your team to be organized, be organized yourself. The best leaders have a strong sense of self and know who they are and what they stand for. They are confident in their own skills and abilities and don't need to prove themselves all the time. They don't have to resort to micromanaging or controlling their employees' every move because they trust them to do the job they were hired for and do it well.

Know your team

Some of the best leaders are also great listeners who know when their team members are ready to be challenged and when they're not. They know how each member of the team prefers to receive information and what their key strengths and weaknesses are. They understand that they can't treat everyone the same way, as each person is as individual as their fingerprints. The best leaders know their people as well as they know themselves. They understand each employee's goals and aspirations, as well as their motivations and drivers. They know what keeps them excited and engaged and what might cause them to lose interest in their job or the organization. They understand the strengths and weaknesses of each person and what each needs to do their best work.

Communicate constantly and honestly

The best leaders communicate constantly and honestly, whether this means giving feedback to an employee or giving an update to the team or an update to the board. They make sure that everyone on the team knows what they're supposed to be doing and what the current goals of the organization are. And they communicate honestly and authentically. They avoid sugar coating challenges or issues and don't promise what they can't deliver. They are respectful of how their employees feel and avoid micro- or overtalking them or making them feel undervalued or unimportant.

Hold people accountable

The best leaders have a true sense of accountability. They expect the same level of accountability from their team that they hold themselves to and hold their team members to the same expectations. They don't make excuses for their team when something goes wrong. They don't cover up mistakes or let them slide. They don't create a culture where people think they can get away with shirking their responsibilities or being irresponsible. They hold people accountable when they need to, and they reward them when they do a good job.

Keep growing your team and the organization

The best leaders don't just look for the next challenge themselves; they also make sure their team members are growing and learning. They keep their organization growing by bringing in new talent and expertise when needed. They make sure they have the right talent on board to tackle current challenges and opportunities. The best leaders are always looking for ways to grow their organization. They are always on the lookout for new ways to expand their reach, increase their impact, and deliver their services better. They constantly ask themselves what they can do to make their organization better.

Conclusion

The best leaders know that an organization is only as strong as its leader. They understand that their team members are only as good as the leader they follow. For that reason, they are always looking for ways to be better leaders so they can inspire their team members to be their best. They take these six principles to heart and put them into practice in everything they do.