43% of UK managers believe that their line manager is ineffective! That’s according to a new report from The Department Of Business, Innovation and Skills and it’s holding the UK economy back – we’re way behind our overseas competitors apparently!
What’s interesting is that UK businesses know there’s a problem! Nearly 75% of employers feel that they have got a deficit in leadership and management skills. Can’t help thinking that’s evidence of a leadership issue in itself – There’s a problem, but many are doing nothing about it!
The report goes on to highlight the Government initiatives aimed at helping them do something about it – which I’m sure are good – although I have to say, not sure that I would see the Government as great ‘role models’ when it comes to this stuff!
So, rather than wait for the Government, why not talk to your team and find out how they think you measure up as a leader? It’s all about ‘Removing Your Blind Spots’ which is one of the 7 things I see successful leaders do consistently.
Hey, we’re all busy and sometimes, we’re so busy, we don’t see the obvious – things that others see!
So why not have a look at these 7 things and see how you measure up? Obviously, it’s not a ‘complete list’ of key leadership factors, but I put them forward for your consideration.
7 things I believe great great leaders do are:
- Get That ‘Vision Thing’ Successful leaders create a clear picture of the future that stimulates, excites and inspires (both themselves and their people). It’s about ‘behaviours’ as well as goals and objectives!
- Go For A Walk!: This is all about proactively creating time to think and work ‘strategically’ – that’s working ‘ON’ the business, not just ‘IN’ it.
- Remove Your Blind Spots: The best leaders actively seek feedback, and put themselves in situations that help them identify the things they’re not doing so well
- Play To Your Strengths: Winning leaders don’t try to be all things to all people – they recognise that they can’t be brilliant at everything – they work on their strengths and accept their ‘tolerable weaknesses’
- Engage Others: It’s about creating other leaders, not followers and maximising people performance at every level
- Fish In Different Ponds: This means getting out of your ‘comfort zone’, mixing with people ‘not like you’ and tapping in to new environments that you’re not familiar with (more information here)
- Challenge The Status Quo: Successful leadership is about questioning what’s going on, and encouraging others to do the same
Feel free to download a simple assessment tool to help you evaluate how you ‘measure up’ against these things – if you’re really brave , why not get your people to ‘assess’ you too?
Crucially, having got some feedback and ‘removed your blind spots’, please do something about it!
This bit is key…. Leaders take ACTION, not just notes!
