Who is freakin exhausted? I know many of us are feeling a little shattered by 2020 (I am!) and I wanted to share some great insights into how to stay driven and focused. The best leaders and managers influence drive (and don’t forget courage and kindness)! I am focusing on the below BIG TIME for myself and my team.
What gives you the desire to do whatever it takes to succeed? It is important for all of us to know this as leaders in a world where there are many exciting opportunities. Staying driven can be a challenge however and you need to know what the options are to maintain your drive. Knowing your patterns of behaviour, leads to new awareness and growth and practicing the habits of successful and driven individuals creates the right leadership mindset for success. In addition, arranging a support network on your journey can increase your drive and motivation as well as building your foundation with new leadership skills.
“Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” Nelson Mandela
Going the Extra Mile
In an Inc. article “Science found the 5 Things That Drive Employees to Go Above and beyond,” Marcel Schwantes highlighted the ideal employee experience that leads to great work performance and positive work cultures. A global study involving more than 23,000 employees in 45 countries across different industries led researchers to construct the Employee Experience Index for measuring what they found to be the five core facets of positive employee experience:
- Belonging – feeling part of a team, group, or organization
- Purpose – understanding why one’s work matters
- Achievement – a sense of accomplishment in the work that is done
- Happiness – the pleasant feeling arising in and around work
- Vigour – the presence of energy, enthusiasm, and excitement at work
When leaders commit to creating an environment where the employee experience is at an optimum level, the emotional commitment the employee has to the organization and its goals hits another stratosphere. And the reason this is so important, of course, is that when employees are emotionally committed, they give discretionary effort. In other words, people will go above and beyond typical job responsibilities, they will go the extra mile!
Leadership Practices that Drive Outcomes
A Forbes article “Leadership Practices That Drive Results” shows the practices that are crucial for leaders and employees. Your leadership establishes the tone and affects company work culture. Culture is like fuel to everything a company does and employees are more than cogs in the machine or an engine of business strategy. Ideally, employees are accountable, results-focused and open as they become leaders in their roles and collaborate with their team. This balance of work ethic and culture homes in on purpose and potential from the C-suite to individual employees, who trust one another and thrive at work. As Culture Powers Purpose, All Members Are Leaders. Here are how those leadership practices and qualities come together to achieve results:
- Communicates Direction and Strategy
- Motivates and Inspires
- Sets Stretch Goals
- High Integrity Inspires Trust
- Helps Others Grow
- Readily Offers and Applies Feedback
These six leadership qualities become intrinsic practices that build engagement, growth, productivity and success in a positive work culture. Employees who incorporate leadership into their daily routine will elevate their career and drive results for their company.
Leadership Development = Success
A Centre for Creative Leadership article “How Leadership Development Powers Success” shows organizations that invest in leadership development perform better than those that don’t. Complex times like these, defined by constant uncertainty and great opportunity, magnify this truth even more. When it comes to driving performance, studies show that organizational investments in leadership development:
- Improve bottom-line financial performance
- Attract and retain talent
- Drive strategy execution, creating organizational alignment
- Increase organizational agility and success in navigating change
Leadership development can, and does, power sustained success for organisations around the world — but only when it’s done the right way.
The Best Bosses influence Drive
My blog “Best Bosses do these 5 things differently” shows how leadership is about making a difference and impact. In turn, when you ask someone who’s unhappy at work and what’s causing their dissatisfaction, the answer is often their boss. The way our bosses interact with us has a massive influence on our work ethic, our mood, and even other aspects of our lives including drive. Bad bosses and leaders can really impact your business and organisation. The vast majority of managers don’t set out to intentionally make their staffs’ lives miserable, of course – but that doesn’t excuse it.
Poor leadership is poor leadership, no matter what end of the scale. Even if you’re not shouting and being mean, you’re still doing a disservice to your team (yourself) if you’re not actively working to be a better leader. It all comes down to leadership; we know that the ‘best’ bosses get the most out of their staff and make them happier, but how do they do it? Here are five things that great boss’s do that keeps their staff happy and enjoying their work:
- Treat Your Staff Like The Individuals They Are
- Push The Purpose
- Regularly Give Personalised Feedback
- Encourage Collaboration And Discussion By Listening
- Be Consistent In Your Leadership Style
These things will drive your employees to be happier, more productive, more engaged and driven. When you break them down, they all come from a base of being attentive to each team member individually. Be consistent, champion your organisation’s purpose, give regular feedback and really listen to your staff. None of this is easy, but it’s what the best bosses do!
Build in Leadership Essentials
LeadershipHQ are excited to be working with Veriskills where our Leadership Essentials Program where you are awarded for Collaboration outcomes. The Leadership Essentials Program is either a self-paced (not Veriskills) or conducted as a group and one on one leadership program which takes 6-9 months and gives participants the human capabilities, tools, skills and resources to be the best person and leader they can be. The Human Capability outcomes you will be awarded on completion of our Leadership Essentials program are as follows:
- Initiative and Drive (Level 3)
- Communication (Level 3)
- Collaboration (Level 3)
- Empathy (Level 3)
Click here to learn more about Veriskills™, and the Human Capability Framework. This program and coaching will take your leadership skills to the next level!
Leadership isn’t easy and sometimes we need help. I am always here.
Get in touch today to learn more about how to increase your drive as a leader and set yourself up for success!
Stay Kind. Stay Courageous.
Sonia x
