The first step to more effective leadership…

We can both agree that leadership is hard work. It doesn’t matter if you’re leading two people or a thousand people—leadership stretches you more than you can imagine.

This is why preparation is important in every level you attain as a leader. You have to prepare before, during, and for each stage of leadership. How? I have some tips, and I will share one every week in November so we can discuss in detail.

Leadership requires trust—hence, the first step is winning people’s trust. This starts before you actually take on a leadership role. You have to be genuinely passionate about people in order to be a leader. If you can’t help but try to figure out how to make people’s lives easier and better, you might have a call to leadership. People choose leaders they feel have the desire to make lives easier and better. Thus, the process of gaining people’s trust is not a day’s job, or a selfish one.

Likewise, your team will be loyal and dedicated if they know they have a leader who genuinely cares about them and about others. As a leader, the best way to build trust is to get involved in coworkers’ tasks and personal challenges. Pay close attention to those who are behind everyone else, and devote some time to explaining their task(s) to them. Ask about their personal lives in a non-intrusive manner, and help in any way possible.

This is a pillar of leadership! You should never forget that people are gifts, and you should be committed to making them feel comfortable and safe around you.

Successful teams are a product of a shared vision, a strong foundation of trust, and transparent communication.