Learn to identify and control your own emotions
If you are working in a leadership position the chances are that you will be required to deal with a variety of stressors within your working day.
Conflict management, talent identification, and leading your team toward goals are just some of the typical demands of the job. For many Professionals it is important to understand our own individual personality traits and those of the people we are responsible for, as this can help when preparing to deal with stressful situations.
You can find out more about different personality types here.
Most tasks can seem very stressful if the leader has no self-control over their emotions. Identifying and controlling one’s emotions, therefore, is critical for those in leadership positions if they want to succeed.
In recent years the “hard line” boss has been losing ground in the job market, giving way to a more democratic type of action, in which the leader invests in horizontal communication. In this context, if you are working in a leadership position it is important to look at one’s own emotions and behavior patterns so that they do not interfere with relationships you have with the individuals within your team.
If you do not consider this there is a risk that you will be viewed as insensitive and possibly arrogant by your employees, this damages the relationship between employee and leader and can have a negative effect on the productivity of the team.
Spend time getting to know your team
Understanding the different personalities of the individuals within your team is vital for a leader who wants to excel in their role. Spending time with the team is a great way to learn about them as individuals so you can understand how each one thinks and acts.
Invest in horizontal communication
As a leader there will be occasions where it is completely necessary to use your position of authority in order to achieve the results you, or your organisation requires. This does not prevent you from investing in democratic communication and allowing employees to express their ideas and opinions. This type of communication brings the team closer and generates a relationship of trust that makes the each team member feel valued.
Develop your empathy skills
Having empathy is knowing how to put yourself in another’s shoes and understand reactions that individuals have to certain situations. This skill is essential for a leader to be able to motivate each member of their team, and is a key feature for conducting positive workflows.
Know how to deal with failures
There will always be occasions where an employee makes a mistake or a misjudgment. In these situations it is important that the individual has the opportunity to learn from the mistake and feel motivated and empowered to improve their performance to prevent it happening again.
A leader needs to instill this confidence in their team members by treating them with respect and integrity at all times. If there is an occasion when you need to point out a negative aspect of an individual’s performance or approach try to do it in a constructive way to prevent them from feeling demotivated.
Remember: When an individual is recognised or praised for their performance, they strive to do even better and improve their results.
Develop your Emotional Intelligence
The development of your own emotional intelligence allows you to understand and learn how to deal with your own and others emotions, creating healthier relationships with your employees and establishing a constructive and productive work environment.
