Many employees dread going to work each day, and spend the entire week waiting for the weekend to arrive. Their work suffers. They don’t work up to their potential, and often feel unappreciated. This creates a vicious circle in which management is seen as unreasonable and demanding, while employees become increasingly unhappy.
The foremost essential quality for a successful leader is trust. Integrity is a close second. People must be confident that their leader has their best interest at heart, not his own personal success. The leader must live up to his word, doing what he says he is going to do and managing for the good of everyone. Trust and integrity define a leader’s effectiveness and success.
A leader must build a winning spirit, encouraging employee’s enthusiasm. A positive environment urges employees to use their energy and talents to compel the company toward productivity. The powers to influence, inspire, and move people to share their talents fall upon the leader. Being a truthful, honest and positive role model is the only way to motivate your team toward a productive relationship, working together for the good of all.
A Leader’s Ten Steps to a Winning Spirit:
The following steps are taken from Dr. Wicker’s book, The Winning Spirit: Build Employee Enthusiasm
- Believe in Yourself: Know that you are unique and only you can provide certain talents. Realize that you are enough; you don’t have to be more.
- Don’t Live with the Status Quo: Become energized by new ambitions and excitement for living.
- Challenge the Odds and Be Bold: Shake off worries and anxiety, becoming confident and free from personal limitations. You can make a difference.
- Be Open to New Ideas: Recognize that you can learn from others. Be open to what others are offering. Be flexible and adaptable.
- Practice Specific Leadership Behaviors: Leaders are not born; we must practice the qualities of other successful leaders.
- Visualize Your Success as a Leader: In order to have a winning spirit, you must see yourself as a leader. Have a successful result in mind.
- Maintain Focus: You have power over your thoughts, and can change your life by changing your attitude. Focus on winning.
- Discipline Yourself: Replace your inner conflicts into calmness and accept a rich life. Don’t waste your time on things that don’t matter.
- Enjoy Today: Do not worry about tomorrow. Plan for the future, but enjoy today. Live the day that is right in front of you to the fullest.
- Practice Being Positive: Your positive thought will be mirrored back to you.
These ten steps are pivotal to instill a winning spirit in yourself and in your employees. Following these proactive leadership behaviors will bring your organization a competitive edge. The right mix of leadership qualities and styles will pull the company together not only in the good times, but also in times of crisis. It all stems upon a strong organizational performance, climate, and positive engagement of the workforce.
The bottom line is that without motivating the people you work with, you won’t be able to add to the success of your company. Choose a proactive leadership style that encourages people to follow you. Empower your employees, allowing them to utilize their talents and work up to their true potentials. You will all share the riches, and be better for it.