10 Leadership Tips In 2 Minutes
Posted by Mitch Mitchell on Jun 11, 2012
I started my own meme on my blogs yesterday with the above topic; well, in general the above topic. I tend to write fairly long posts, but I decided to try something a little different in writing a post that should only take the average reader 2 minutes at best. I've tackled blogging and finances in two other blogs and now I'm tackling leadership. Can I do a leadership post for a 2-minute read? Let's find out.
 via Flickr |
1. Leaders don't have to know it all; they need to know how to find out what they don't know.
2. Leaders don't have to do it all. Learn how to delegate and ask questions of others.
3. Leaders don't have to put in long hours just to show how committed they are. Learn how to relax from time to time and don't burn yourself out.
4. Leaders are human, which means sometimes they make mistakes. Always try to do your best but realize you're not infallible, and realize that for those working for you as well.
5. Leaders share; don't hog all the credit when you don't deserve it, and sometimes when you do try to figure out how to share the glory.
6. Leaders need time to think. Thinking is what most leaders are supposed to do, and you can't think of you don't take time to do it.
7. Leaders need to learn when to say yes and when to say no. You can't okay everything because some things aren't good, but you can't automatically say no to everything because you don't agree or don't understand it.
8. Leaders need to learn how to listen. Listening is not only the best skill a leader can have, but it's their most valuable skill as well.
9. Leaders need to know how to evaluate talent. Everyone isn't great but everyone isn't bad either. Every one has unique skills, speeds at which they can work and speeds at which they learn. Figure everyone out and you can merge them into a well oiled team.
10. Leaders need to be fair. All anyone wants is to be treated fairly, and if those who work for you see that they'll go to the ends of the earth for you.
Now, go out there and lead!
Short but useful tips, I agree leaders doesn’t need to know everything bu knowing what he needs to improved from himself.
Wanting to improve works well Melisa, but even if a leader can’t find the right answers, having an idea of where those answers might be found can help greatly.
I like this new idea, I saw the other two posts on your other blogs. Much better when it is formulated as points leaving everybody to understand the tips in own way.
Thanks Carl. It’s something different and something I may do here and there but certainly not as a regular thing.
Awesome tips. I will print this and distribute to the managerial team in my company. There is a lot they need to learn from this.
Thanks Jerry. Maybe you could send them to Kim Kardashian as well. lol
Great post, Mitch! Nice and succinct.
If I could, I’d like to add that leaders also allow others to fail for their own growth. There’s a time and a place for this, obviously, as sometimes the team/organization can’t deal with any major setbacks.
But, there are other times when it’s beneficial to let your people try an idea and let it fail. It accomplishes a few things. One, they learn a whole bunch more by trying than they do by listening. The act of trying and failing cements that lesson in their mind. Two, it provides a great training opportunity to go back and discuss why the chosen path wasn’t the best choice. Three, it makes your team feel like they have a voice and you’ll listen to their ideas, which will promote more creativity and fresh ideas down the road. They’ll also feel valued, which brings with it a sense of loyalty to the team and leader. Plus, they just might devise a slightly different solution than you expected and end up being successful anyways.
Basically, there is a time and a place to let your people have the freedom to try different things, even if you think they won’t be successful, without the fear of serious repercussions. The benefits in these situations are irreplaceable.
Have a great end to the week!
~Barry
Thanks Barry. I think what you stated is important, but since I needed kind of a top 10 some things had to be left behind. Truthfully, I tend to believe that every endeavor a person wishes to entertain starts with them and changing their own behaviors first. Whereas allowing others to grow is a big deal in leadership, I obviously didn’t see it as a top 10 moment. For instance, when I wrote my book, one of the things I put in there was that leaders have to learn how and when to say “no”. It’s a specific tip for a leader that doesn’t really involve anyone else, even though it will affect others.
Still, there’s nothing saying that one day I don’t go back and write a second top 10 and include those things in there. lol
Lol on the Kim Kardashian quip ;D
You know I agree with all these things but it strikes me that most of them are probably dependent on the leader having a good level of self confidence; without that he/she will find themselves wanting to hog the limelight, take the credit, say ‘yes’ too often etc.
If they have natural reserves of self confidence then these principles come relatively easily, without, the person can get there but will have to fight their own insecurities.
Actually Roz, even if they lack self confidence, if they learn these 10 things, or at least consider them, they’ll eventually gain the confidence they need because you can’t learn and do these things and not gain from them. That’s my belief anyway.
Thanks for the reply Mitch.
I take on board what you say and I guess my new, modified position would be that innate self confidence is a tremendous asset in being a leader but confidence can be attained by pushing through obstacles, learning and conquering.
Yep, I’m happy with that.
Love it Mitch. Long posts have their place but short, sweet and to the point work even better.
One of the best definitions of being a leader that I ever read was this: A leader is simply someone who says, “I’ll go first.”
I love this definition because it takes away all the negative stereotypes that go along with being a leader.
Take care. 🙂
Good stuff Justin. I go both ways as you know but I tend to think most of my posts on this blog are medium sized. I like your definition, as it’s one that’s been forgotten over time.