What is effective leadership?

The world today is increasingly uncertain, which ramps up the pressure to succeed and the pace at which you’re expected to react. This makes effective business leadership an even harder task.

We’re seeing the pace of change increase enormously with the advancement of technology. This was to some extent expected, but it’s happened at a time when global turbulence has also increased. Business leaders have had to face challenges they didn’t expect, including Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and now the energy crisis.

These have impacted already listless productivity levels and put added pressure on the supply chain. Furthermore, employee and customer expectations have also evolved, while the demands of business require a relentless pursuit of greater efficiency. All these factors combine into a major headache for team leaders, who are expected to spearhead the company’s achievements.

So what do we mean by ‘effective leadership’ in today’s business world?

Being an effective leader is a strategy. It’s not a reflection of your personality or your professional expertise, but about how you behave in the business environment. This has been backed up by numerous studies, which show that ‘leadership behaviours’ are the critical factor in enabling teams to achieve better performance and increased success.

How you behave day to day will have the greatest potential impact on your team-building, and help you to get the most out of your people. This doesn’t mean you have to undergo a personality transplant, but look carefully at your daily activities and interactions. If you’re prepared to analyse your ‘leadership behaviours’ and assess their impact on your team, you’ll be able to evolve these behaviours to motivate others and promote productivity.

So what kind of behaviours are exhibited by the most effective leaders?

• They provide clarity. Effective leaders take the time not only to explain what must be done but also why it matters for the business. People will be more motivated if they have a better idea of the big picture, and how they’re contributing to the company as a whole. Effective leaders will demonstrate what it means to do a great job by making themselves the role model.
• They provide clear communication. They’re willing to listen, and they encourage others to contribute new ideas. Effective leaders recognise the achievements of both individuals and their team – and acknowledge them.
• They are inspiring, resilient and positive towards others. This doesn’t necessarily mean they have a forceful personality, but rather that they’ve learned these leadership behaviours and demonstrate them on a daily basis.

Today’s business challenges are greater than ever before, and the business leaders who rise to them successfully are those who take these principles on board. They are the leaders who adapt their behaviours in order to create a better working environment for the whole workforce. They maximise their employees’ potential and give people meaning in their work. They show their employees what part they have to play in achieving the company’s business vision and ultimate success.

So to be an effective leader you should take the time to consider these factors. Analyse the routine behaviours of your managers and team leaders to assess in what way they’re impacting your team’s motivation and performance. Your role as an effective leader is very important in developing these behaviours, and even minor modifications can make a major difference.

Our team at BHP Consulting have all successfully run businesses, and we understand that every business is unique. Our practical approach to supporting our clients enables us to share our real world experience to positively impact on the performance of your business. To arrange a call or an exploratory face-to-face meeting, please click here.