Top 10 leadership strategies for leaders

Leadership effectiveness is not an easy thing to accomplish. You may be the executive in a major corporation, a leader in government, an entrepreneur, a business leader or a church leader, you need to create and leave an inerasable mark of leadership success. We know beyond any shadow and cobweb of doubt that great leaders have great strategies for great results in leadership. Without great strategies, great results will never be the desired result.

As a leadership consultant, I have identified top ten leadership strategies that I know will make an unforgettable memory of your leadership.

1. Be vision conscious

Leadership expert, Warren Bennis defines leadership as the ability to translate vision into reality. Successful leaders are always mindful of the vision for their team, division, department or organization. They are vision conscious. They know the vision of their organization and they effectively communicate it to their people.

Without vision, any organization no matter how big it is, will fail decimally. Without vision, success becomes a lofty mountain to climb.

2. Value people

John Maxwell remarked, "He who thinks he leads without followers is not leading but taking a walk." Effective leadership is founded on the solid foundation of valuing people. You need to respect and care genuinely for your people. People are the most important asset that you can ever have. If you treat them like they don't have feelings, they will not trust you as a leader and your vision.

Show people that you genuinely care for them and they will show you how much they appreciate your care. Do this by giving them growth opportunities and by showing good support they need from you as their leader.

3. Build a strong team of leaders

Great leaders are those who take time to build a team of leaders at all levels of the organization. A team of leaders does not only add value to your leadership, it multiplies your effectiveness and excellence in your organization. It takes resources like time, money and energy to identify, train, develop and coach potential leaders.

4. Know and embrace your values

You must know what you should stand on in every situation. This simply means that you must know and establish a good behavioural standard. Effective leadership is about knowing and embracing what you really stand for. If you value excellence, you will stand for it; if you value good relationships, you will stand by them; if you value leadership, you will create a culture of leadership by producing more leaders.

When you know your values, you will take decisions based on them. You won't be driven by emotions but you will be driven by character.

5. Listen effectively

Successful leaders listen to their people with their ears, eyes and heart. They know that people closest to the work know exactly what is going on. When you listen to your people with an intention to act appropriately and effectively, you show that you care. John Maxwell said, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

Create an environment in which people feel safe to express their opinions and give suggestions.

6. Communicate effectively

You cannot separate effective leadership from effective communication. Effective leadership comes as a result of people being motivated, inspired and influenced to give their best for the good of the organization. It therefore takes a leader to effectively communicate organizational vision, mission and strategies to his people so that they are motivated, inspired and influenced to perform effectively.

7. Be a catalyst of change

Effective leaders know that every organization becomes effective and successful when positive changes are introduced at the right time. You must bear in mind that you cannot think of changing your organization for the better if you don't change yourself. This simply means that you cannot be an instrument of change in your organization if you are not changing certain things that are not good for you. Change starts with you as a leader.

8. Be a good motivator

Every great leader knows that effective leadership is made possible through motivation. People respond to motivation. They don't need to be bossed around to perform effectively. Motivation has the potential to bring the best out of people. Take an employee whose morale is down and put him or her in the care of a motivational leader and you will see great changes and results.

9. Don't be afraid to take hard decisions

Successful leaders hold their people accountable to the mission and vision of the organization. They expect nothing else from their people except excellence. To be effective in leadership, you need to learn how to take hard decisions. If some of your people don't perform according to the required standard even after you have identified the gabs, trained and coached them, don't hesitate to get rid of them, they are a weak link.

10. Develop your leadership

If you want to be one of the great leaders in your generation, you must keep on improving your leadership. The best way to develop your leadership is to develop your character. You must always know and remember that leadership development and character development are one. Don't get tired of learning from other leaders, from books, tapes, seminars and conferences.