By Alan Graner
General Douglas MacArthur hated to lose men in combat, so when we began retaking islands captured by the Japanese in World War II, he devised a clever strategy.
Conventional wisdom stated if the enemy was entrenched on Island A, you invaded and attacked them head-on.
Not MacArthur. Instead he bypassed the island and captured the one behind it, cutting off the enemy’s supply chain and isolating them, rendering them inert and keeping American casualties to a minimum.
No wonder his men trusted him.
6 steps to becoming a respected leader
It’s human nature that a workforce will work harder, perform better and show more initiative for someone they trust.
As a leader it’s your job to create an atmosphere of trust. Here are some specific steps towards earning a reputation as a trusted, accountable leader:
- Define and clarify roles, goals and expectations.
- Don’t accept denial, blaming, excuses and scapegoating. When things don’t go right, beware the “victim mindset.”
- Don’t let department heads and team or project leaders off the hook.
- Take initiative to figure out where the barriers to success lie.
- Set milestones and metrics.
- Find balance between process and results.
Source: Henry Browning, “6 Keys to Becoming a Trusted Leader,” published in Forbes http://www.forbes.com/sites/ccl/2012/03/27/6-keys-to-becoming-a-trusted-leader/
4 characteristics of an exceptional leader
The number one reason people leave a job? They’re dissatisfied with the relationship they have with their direct supervisor or manager. When you consider each manager may control between five to 30 subordinates, you quickly see how bad managers can wreak havoc on an organization’s talent.
What, then, are the characteristics of an exceptional manager? There are many, but the following are at the core of success:
- Fairness. Exceptional managers act in good faith to help build trust and credibility with their direct reports.
- Listening. Exceptional managers are excellent, empathetic listeners who acknowledge and validate their subordinates’ thoughts, feelings and actions.
- Clarity. Exceptional managers ask their employees to repeat back what’s been said to ensure they understand the key messages.
- Feedback. Exceptional managers consistently provide timely, constructive feedback to improve performance, impart knowledge, train and guide their direct reports.
Source: Michael Perla, “What Becomes a Manager Most?” in MarketingProfs.com http://www.marketingprofs.com/print.asp?source=/perspect/perla1.asp
In your experience, what makes a great leader?
Image: United States Army via Wikimedia Commons
Alan Graner is Chief Creative Officer at Daly-Swartz Public Relations, an Orange County, CA business marketing content and distribution firm. For content that makes you stick out from the crowd, email Jeffrey Swartz at jeffreyswartz@dsprel.com. Or visit www.dsprel.com.