There are thousands of articles written about the differences between a leader and a manager. Most of us who have been in the workforce for several years have more than likely had both. I am not sharing with you today to debate the differences as much as I am sharing to highlight a formula I feel is necessary for anyone to evolve from being a manager to an effective leader.
The EM squared formula suggests that to be an effective leader one must encourage, motivate and mentor. Absence of any of the three makes it difficult to lead.
An effective leader must encourage daily. The workforce as a whole gets beaten down. An effective leader recognizes that people need encouragement. Everyone needs someone to pick them up every now and then. In a world of doing more with less, leaders must be aware that their most precious commodity is people and they need to be given positive energy and encouragement.
An effective leader must motivate daily. Human nature is to get comfortable. Human nature is to settle for what you already have. Effective leaders recognize that at times they must help those around them to believe they can do more and be more. A leader must motivate people to embrace opportunities rather than focus on the things they think are holding them back.
Finally, effective leaders understand the importance of being a mentor to those around them. You can encourage by offering up kind words and acknowledging someone's efforts. You can motivate by helping someone see the path to more success and helping them believe they can take it. Mentor by leading with your own actions. Lead by example. Mentor by practicing what we preach. Encourage someone each day. Motivate someone each day. Mentor everyday.
I must do a better job of practicing what I preach. I must do a better job everyday of executing these three principles. Encourage! Motivate! Mentor! Karen Lamb said "A year from now you will wish you had started today." Will you join me in starting today, so we can each be more effective leaders a year from now?
Swagger On Friends!
Written by Derron Steenbergen, President of the Swagger Institute
The Swagger Institute is a full service business development company offering sales and leadership training, motivational speaking, customer service training and organizational consulting.