10 Awesome Tips for Being a Better Leader

The good news is that we've compiled this list of
awesome, actionable leadership tips that will have you
running your business...like a boss -- a good one. Some
are relatively basic but are important reminders. Others,
well, perhaps you've never considered before.
Consider these tips when upping your leadership game:
1. Lead by example.
Leaders need to show, not just tell. If you want your
employees to be punctual, make sure you’re there on
time -- or even early. If professionalism is a priority,
make sure you’re dressed for success, and treat
everyone you interact with (both in-person and online)
with courtesy. Set the tone and your employees will
follow it.
Read more: 5 Ways to Lead by Example at Work
2. A little humility goes a long way.
There’s a difference between a leader and a boss. While
both are in charge, a leader shares the spotlight and is
comfortable crediting others. While it might seem
counterintuitive, being humble takes more confidence
than basking in glory. Your employees will appreciate it,
and your clients will, too.
Read more: Turns Out, Humility Offers a Competitive
Advantage
3. Communicate effectively.
Effective communication is imperative, both in the office
and in life. Great leaders make sure they are heard and
understood, but they also know the importance of
listening. Communication is a two-way street, and
making the most of it will have your company zooming
forward instead of pumping the breaks.
Read more: 4 Tips on Managing Your Business
Communications
4. Keep meetings productive.
As the saying goes, time is money. So, of course, you
should want to limit tangents and other time wasters
during meetings. If you trust your team to do their job,
there should be no need for micromanaging, and
meetings can run swiftly.
Read more: The 7 Must-Know Rules of Productive
Meetings
5. Know your limits.
Even the kindest, most caring leader has limits. Set your
boundaries and stick to them. Knowing what you will not
tolerate can save everyone in the office a lot of
frustration, and keeping boundaries clear means there’s
no confusion.
Read more: The SEAL Teams Don’t Accept These 10
Phrases, and Neither Should You
6. Find a mentor.
No man is an island, as they say. The best leaders out
there know when they need help, and they know where
to turn to in order to get it. Nobody can know everything,
so finding someone you trust for advice when things get
tough can make all of the difference.
Read more: 7 Surprising Truths About Mentors
7. Be emotionally aware.
While many people advise keeping emotions separate
from matters of business, business is ultimately about
relationships between people. To make these
relationships last, you need to be emotionally intelligent
-- to be sensitive to different points of view and different
backgrounds. When using your head to do what’s best
for your company, don’t forget to have a heart.
Read more: Dealing With Feelings: How to Be an
Emotionally-Aware Leader
8. Watch out for (and avoid) common
pitfalls of leadership.
Everyone makes mistakes, but some of them are
avoidable. Being aware of common mistakes, while not
focusing on them to the point that they become self-
fulfilling prophecies, can be the first step toward not
repeating them.
Read more: Avoid These 8 Mistakes as a New Leader
9. Learn from the past.
To once again quote an adage, those who don’t learn
from the past are doomed to repeat it. History, recent
and otherwise, is filled with examples of successful
business models and spectacular business failures.
Think about what the people you admire do well, and
consider what went wrong for those who end their
careers mired in scandal or disgrace. Lessons can be
found everywhere.
Read more: Leadership Lessons From Alexander the
Great
10. Never stop improving.
Great leaders -- indeed, great people -- are constantly
learning and always trying to improve themselves.
There’s always something that you can work on or a
new skill to master. Be sure to keep your mind open to
new ideas and possibilities.
Read more: 7 Traits to Turn Good Managers Into Great