5 Leadership Tips for Self Improvement

Posted byVanya Wryter ConsultingPosted inBusiness, Entrepreneurship, Work SkillsTags:, , , , , , ,
Daily writing prompt
What makes a good leader?
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It’s easy to be a bad leader, but it’s more challenging to be a good one. You don’t need formal training to be a good leader, just some practical experience and the critical understanding that you should treat others how you want to be treated. And if you want to be the best leader you can, you’ll always be learning about self improvement. Here are some tips on what makes a good leader to get you started.

Here’s what a good leader does well:

1 Leads by example

A good leader is very hands on. How else can you thoroughly understand the challenges that your team is facing, or how long it takes to complete a task if you haven’t worked on it yourself? Also, if the leader wants their team to work hard, the leader must work hard. The leader leads by example. 

Even if the task is something you cannot do on your own, by working side by side with your team, you will see who gets the job done most efficiently, who leads others, and who is always eager to learn. Now you know the strengths and weaknesses of your team by working with them.

2 Asks questions and does not make demands

A good leader has an open mind. Instead of telling the team to finish the work by Friday, ask if they can complete it by Friday. This question gives them the opportunity to raise concerns and bring awareness to possible roadblocks.

If a mistake is made, a good leader doesn’t make assumptions or immediately blame someone. A good leader points out the mistake and explains what needs to be fixed. They’ll ask what happened to find out what could have caused the error. The first suspect may not be the cause. Then, the leader works with the team to figure out a way to prevent the mistake from happening again.


3 Adjusts their leadership style

A good leader understands that one leadership style does not fit all. Some people need more support than others, especially if they are new to the job. This is not the same as micromanaging. The leader may need to show a new employee once how to do a task, and expect that person to be more independent the second time. 

Some team members are more social and prefer more team interaction. And some are less social and like to be left alone to complete their tasks. The team leader must find a way for the team to work together while respecting everyone’s working preferences.

4 Checks in with the team individually

A good leader regularly checks in with each team member individually. The leader provides feedback on the team member’s performance and asks how they support the team member in their professional growth. What courses would this person like to take?

They also see each person as an individual. By taking the time to talk with each person one-on-one, they will have a better idea about how to support that team member. That person may need time off to take their kids to appointments so they will need a more flexible schedule, for example. 

5 Is never the smartest person in the room

It can be tough on the ego if you aren’t the smartest person in the room. However, a leader should never be the smartest person in the room. 

A leader can depend on a strong team with various areas of expertise to collaborate to get a job done. A leader can still be effective if they are always learning from their team or finding opportunities to learn together. A person who is always learning is always growing. 

A person who knows that there is something they don’t know will always be humble and open-minded.

These are all the traits of a good leader.

112 thoughts on “5 Leadership Tips for Self Improvement”

  1. Pingback: 5 Leadership Tips for Self Improvement

  3. I remembering learning on a management course that the number one thing that improves employee performance is having a boss who genuinely cares about them. I think about that a lot. I remember so many people on the course rated that far down the list. But it makes perfect sense. Happy people do better work. People who like their company try harder.

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  6. Well, if being a good leader means never being the smartest cheese in the cracker box, then I guess I’ve found my calling! 🧀 But hey, being humble and open-minded has its perks, like getting to learn from the brilliant minds around you while still getting to call the shots. Who said leadership couldn’t be cheesy and wise at the same time?

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  7. Excellent, very wise post. I believe leadership naturally involves some form of ingrainment with the rest. People must buy into a leader’s program…but they can only do so via relatability. A leader must make themselves and their goals relatable and value their team if they want to extract good results.

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  8. ‘Never the smartest person in the room’ – indeed, a leader will use its skill to guide you to the smartest one in the room. It takes some valuable skills to know how to do that, only a good leader can do that.

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  21. Your blog post on what makes a good leader is very insightful and well-structured. I especially appreciated your emphasis on leading by example and the importance of adapting leadership styles to fit individual team members. This approach not only showcases empathy but also a deep understanding of effective team dynamics. Regarding your point about leaders not being the smartest in the room, I’m curious, how do you think a leader can foster an environment where every team member feels comfortable and motivated to share their knowledge and expertise? This seems crucial for the kind of collaborative growth you mentioned.

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    1. Thanks for your comment! To foster an environment where everyone feels comfortable, that starts from day one. The company/team makes it a policy to respect all team members, and the leader uses language that shows respect for all opinions. If someone makes a mistake, the leader does not attack the person, but instead, approaches the mistake by working on a way for the team member to prevent the mistake from happening again. Also, the leader encourages everyone to share their expertise with the view that every contribution is welcome and respected.

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  22. Pingback: LEAD ON! Leading with Heart and Mind. – scribbler

  32. We would add that to lead one’s life, manage others and have a successful group, know that your speech determines the outcomes. Know the words and word arrangements for best life possible. We write on this daily, Thank you!

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  35. This is so true! Wish all the school principals in poor neighborhoods in the U.S. had this posted in their offices. They would realize the value of all their teachers and administrators, instead of trying to control and dominate them. Thanks for the post!

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