|
||||
|
|
![]() |
Business Informations |
|
|
8 Questions to Ask if You Want to be a Better Leader
Those that have successfully made the transition from manager to leader have found the importance of continuously asking questions. Constantly receiving feedback from front line workers enables aleader to understand what is going right and where improvement is needed. At the same time, the leader is showing interest in the front line workers through these questions. However asking questions can become harmful if two key steps do not follow them. First, it is important that the leader acts on what was learned from the questions. If a front line employee offers information about a problem they expect to have the issue addressed. Effective leaders have been able to eliminate unnecessary paperwork, streamline operations, improve customer responsiveness, and many other positive results. The employees that make these suggestions translate these changes as an indicator of their value to the organization. Second, the employee needs to be provided with recognition once the leader has implemented a solution to the employee's suggestion or complaint. Although traditional leaders believe this has to be monetary, the reality is that employees are very happy with verbal recognition. In the event a solution was not possible, the employee should still be acknowledged and provided with details about why the policy or procedure change, or the suggestion could not be enacted. Here are some sample questions to ask in your daily contact with your employees. Notice the questions take a positive aspect to focus the employees on what is going right. An effective leader practicing active listening skills will listen to the hidden message and then probe for underlying frustrations from a positive point of view. 1. How are we providing the support you need to accomplish your work? 2. What are you finding most rewarding about your position? 3. What is your favorite part of your work? 4. Do you have any ideas to improve processes or procedures? 5. What customer interaction was most pleasurable today? 6. What is the most productive use of your time? 7. Do you have any ideas of how our organization might save money or time? 9. What is the silliest thing we have asked you to do? Remember: Ask the questions, listen to the answers, enact solutions where possible, and value the employee with verbal acknowledgement of results. This is just one of the best practices of today's most effective leaders. Max Impact offers a seminar for leadership team reviewing this and other great ideas and tips with an emphasis on things participants can put into immediate action. For more information call 248-802-6138 or send an email to info@getmaximpact.com. Rick Weaver is an accomplished business executive with a wealth of experience in retail, market analysis, supply chain enhancement, project management, team building, and process improvement. Building on a strong retail background, Rick moved to full supply-chain involvement, working with hundreds of companies to improve sales, processes, and bottom-line results. As Rick's interaction in varied industries expanded, he became troubled as he increasingly noticed that people and companies had untapped or unfocused talent. Coupled with Rick's passion for training and development, popular style of interactive workshops and seminars, and strong desire for continuous improvement, he founded Max Impact Corporation to be singularly focused on helping individuals and organizations achieve high performance. Rick is a popular speaker at seminars, workshops, and conferences. He has spoken in 43 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, and in Canada and Puerto Rico. He is available to speak at groups of all sizes.
MORE RESOURCES:
leadership - Google News |
RELATED ARTICLES
Leadership Success and its Greatest Barrier: the Law of Administrivia Years ago, a very wise, and often cynical boss of mine asked me for a definition of management. After reflecting on the question I proceeded to give him an intellectually careful and, I thought, accurate definition. 5 Human Capital Asset Enrichment Strategies for Leaders! Here's a really simple way to think about the ins and outs, the doing and practice or attitudes and behaviors of being a leader.Many times I get asked certain questions that tell me that there seems to be some confusion concerning these critical areas of the leadership mission:1) When and who can, should or will leaders need to lead?2) What do leaders actually do?3) How and in what ways do leaders appear to lead?This article will show you how to analyze, define and perform the most important task of a leader's job - that is, to enrich human capital. The Defining Moment: The Straw That Stirs The Drink Of Motivational Leadership (Part One) Decades ago, as a rifle platoon commander in the Marines, I saw leaders who could motivate troops to do extraordinary things -- and leaders who couldn't get the troops to do much at all. I wondered what was the difference between the successful and unsuccessful leaders; and if that difference be taught. Leadership In The Zone! "You do not merely want to be considered just the best of the best. You want to be considered the only one who does what you do. Is Your Life Ready For Groundhog Day? In the hit comedic movie Groundhog Day, Bill Murray's character, Phil Conners, is caught up in a time warp, doomed to live the same day over and over until he gets it right. Hilarious as the ensuing mayhem may be on the big screen, it is a poignant and not too thinly veiled metaphor for how most of us live our own lives - mindlessly occupied with our own issues and concerns, stumbling through life (often over the toes of others) with little if any conscious direction or critical thought. The Challenge to Lead The topic of leadership has been and continues to be one of the most vital topics in human history. From ancient civilizations to modern day multi-national corporations, men and women of passion, fervor and zeal have sought to discover the secrets of moving others beyond the gray of their mundane reality to the rich array of colors that embody the palate of the extraordinary life. The Four Laws Of Leadership (Part One) Leadership is motivational or it's stumbling in the dark. After all, isn't it more effective to have people want to go from point A to point B instead of to be ordered to go from A to B?The ability to instill "want to" in others, to motivate them, marks the difference between average leaders and great leaders. Leadership Skills Training Empowers Problem-solving and Visioning Leadership skills training programs empower you to influence, persuade or inspire others. Well constructed training programs should result in improved, more effective leadership skills for your colleagues and you. Managing Monsters in Meetings - Part 3, Drifting From the Topic Although new ideas lead to creative solutions, they can be a challenge when they interrupt or distract the work on an issue.Approach 1: Question the relationship to topicWhen new ideas seem inappropriate, say:"That's an interesting point (or question). Ask Yourself Whats In It For WE? "Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Leadership Skill Training Quality leadership is a positive asset that is needed in every organization. Observe any successful club, committee or team and you will find a capable leader in each of these organizations. Four Obstacles to Exceptional Leadership--Part 1 "Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them." -- Orison Swett MardenEvery day leaders are faced with challenges to expand their thinking, overcome obstacles and embrace potential growth. Three Growth Guidelines from Stephen Covey I have been looking for answers to what it takes to create a winning corporate culture in the midst of today's confusing economic indicators. If I rely solely on history or economic indicators, I won't find the answers. The Leadership Talk As A Living Hologram The hologram is a three-dimensional photograph made on a flat surface with laser beams.The three-dimensionality of such an image is not the only remarkable characteristic of a hologram. Five Things Smart Leaders Do to Lower The Barriers To Change Smart leaders understand that they don't "make" a change happen. They recognize that the people in their organization do the work, change behaviors, and, ultimately, make the change happen. In Leadership, Good Enough Is Pretty Bad The first time I meet a leader to decide if we should work together, I invariably ask one question. The answer to that question gives me an idea of whether we'll have a productive relationship. What Does Exceptional Business Success Require of Us? To excel in business we need conscious command of all our faculties, mind, body and heart to ensure our work/life balance. Then we can seize the moment of opportunity and create exceptional results. 5 Leadership Power Principles! 95% of Workers Fail Because of This.. The Seven Secrets to New Age Leadership Did you ever notice that In our American culture, we have the tendency to look outside of ourselves for leadership? That's a trap. Isn't it time we looked inside ourselves to see how we can be the leader we want and need to be in the 21st century? I certainly think so. The Three Essential Attributes of a Leader: The Demonstrated Abilities Leaders need to:1. Have a vision to which they are committedLeaders arrive with a vision: a deeply thought out view of what to do to make a difference in the complex, competitive world of today. |
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
|
|
|
||||