Common-Sense Tips for Leaders

So, what does it take to be a leader? We talk a lot about that on this blog, and today I saw (and liked) this simple list of 101 common-sense tips for managers (and really can apply to just about anyone in leadership position).

They broke the list down into different categorizes, and gave reasons behind most tips.

Here are 10 tips I liked from the list of 101 tips, which I encourage you to go read:

1. Only promise what you can realistically deliver. Don't create deadlines that you know you can't meet. By only promising what you know you can do, you'll be able to finish on time.
2. Delegate tasks. Spread work among your employees in a way that doesn't leave anyone overburdened while also allowing the project work smoothly.
3. Give credit when it's due. Don't take credit for your employees' ideas or hog their limelight. This action not only fosters resentment but also makes you seem untrustworthy.
4. Do only what is necessary. There are times when going above and beyond works, but doing so on a daily basis can derail your progress on more important issues. Get the key things done first, then see if you have time for additional things.
5. Do your least favorite tasks first. Get your most tedious and least desirable tasks out of the way earlier in the day. After that, everything else will be a breeze.
6. Remember that the customer is the boss. At the end of the day, your job is to make the customer happy. Act accordingly.
7. Don't be afraid to say you don't know. It's OK not to know the answer to every question. It's better to say you don't know and get back to a customer than to try to bluff your way through a conversation and have to backtrack later.
8. Keep an eye on the competition. Don't let the competition get the best of you. Keep up-to-date with what they're doing and use it to your advantage in managing your business.
9. Be empathetic to personal problems. Whether it should or not, what happens outside of work can have a big affect on the quality of work produced. Be sensitive if employees have personal issues that keep them from concentrating on work.
10. Remember that ethics matter above all. Be honest and reliable in all of your business and personal relationships.

Push to the Top on Your Own

There's always a list of Top 10 or Top 50 out there. Maybe in your industry, maybe within the company or even in your own department. How much you strive to make it to the top is an indicator of your drive to excellence, and how much you strive to put your Organization in the Top10 list, is an indicator of your drive in Leadership..

However, most of these lists reflect Last Year's accomplishments. If you simply "follow" what they did, then where is the innovation in that? and why would you deserve that spot?

Learn from HOW they got there, and work on what could put you and your organization at the top THIS year, with TODAY's technology and innovation...

Here are two examples of "Top 10" or "Top 22" lists to motivate the leader in you:

Top 10 Companies where SOA made a difference in 2006

Top 22 Churches in America

Network... network... network...

So you want to be a leader? you'll need to work on networking.
For those that don't know about LinkedIn.com, you're missing one of the best tools for networking.

Some demographics for LinkedIn users:

Male: 70%
Average Age: 36
Average Title: Senior Manager with 8 years leadership experience
Ave Salary: $75K to $120K
Average 3 leads per month

(thanks to Matt Mumford for the stats above)

So, go ahead, create a LinkedIn profile, and start networking with coworkers, partners, and clients.


Here's my profile