How to Define, Discover, and Develop Everyday Leaders
Like the importance of a well functioning coffee machine, leadership is a vital component of any successful organization. It’s not a concept limited to those in the C-suite, and can be found in employees who possess specific qualities and exhibit certain behaviors. Everyday leaders play a crucial role in percolating positive change and inspiring their teams to reach new heights. Nurturing and developing these leaders helps businesses create a culture of growth, innovation, and success — drip by drip! So where should they start?
Step One: Understand what everyday leadership looks like
Everyday leadership reflects empathy, integrity, communication skills, vision, adaptability, passion, and courage. It creates a positive work environment, and allows employees to convey ideas and deliver feedback. It inspires others to work towards common goals, while being adaptable in the face of change. It mobilizes passion, as well as demonstrates courage through taking risks and making difficult decisions.
Step Two: Identify potential everyday leaders
Equipped with a better understanding of what everyday leadership looks like, the next step businesses must take is to actually find everyday leaders amongst their pool of employees. Some common traits to look for include:
Initiative: Employees who take initiative and go above and beyond what is expected of them demonstrate leadership potential. They take charge of projects and inspire others to follow their lead.
Problem-solving skills: Look for employees who can think critically and come up with creative solutions to problems. These employees analyze situations and make informed decisions, showcasing their ability to lead.
Empathy: Employees who are empathetic and understanding towards their colleagues are more likely to create a positive and inclusive work environment. They exhibit the qualities of a compassionate leader.
Passion: Employees who are passionate about their work have the power to inspire others. Their enthusiasm and dedication can motivate and engage their team members, driving success.
Adaptability: Look for employees who are flexible and open to change. Those who can adjust their plans and strategies to new circumstances demonstrate potential to lead in a dynamic environment.
Integrity: Strong leaders have a sense of ethics and hold themselves accountable for their actions. Look for employees who lead by example and exhibit honesty and transparency.
Step Three: Nurture your everyday leaders
To develop effective leaders within their organizations, businesses must implement a number of different strategies, including:
- Offering leadership training and development programs, which can be delivered in different formats such as in-person sessions or online courses.
- Providing opportunities for employees to assume leadership roles, be it leading projects, teams, or cross-functional initiatives.
- Encouraging employees to provide feedback allows them to feel valued and provides valuable insights for organizational improvement.
- Recognizing and rewarding employees who exhibit leadership behavior, which can be done through recognition programs, bonuses, or promotions.
- Fostering a culture of learning by offering stretch assignments, conferences, workshops, and training programs.
- Leading by example, demonstrating qualities such as transparency, ethics, empathy, and effective communication that they expect from their everyday leaders.
By investing in everyday leaders, businesses will notice a spike in employee engagement and team performance. Employees will find themselves motivated towards better decision making, innovation, and creativity.
As a human resources consulting firm that specializes in helping businesses build and develop their talent, MaxPeople can leverage a variety of personality and leadership assessments to accelerate self-awareness, and deliver expertise in leadership development, talent management, HR compliance, and recruitment and employment law. With MaxPeople’s support, businesses can create a culture they have always dreamed of and develop the talent they need to succeed.