OPINION
Becoming A BETTER LEADER
Bad habits in your leadership style can be unlearned when you work on your self-awareness and seek honest feedback from others, says MBA social impact advisor Jill Bausch , who provides the following pointers
L eadership is a learning track and while such skills don’t always come naturally, most can be learned. However, some of us have habits that are risking our succession path. Fortunately, these can be unlearned, just by becoming more aware of ourselves and seeking honest feedback. Here is a checklist for what not to do as a leader. Recognise and address these behaviours in yourself in order to become a better manager. • You don’t listen Everyone wants to feel heard, whether they are on the first rung of the work ladder or already at the top. That doesn’t mean that every idea you have should be shared or that every thought you have should be acted
upon. However, good leaders find time to listen fully and without distraction. Do you listen with full attention? Do you listen without interrupting and then ask insightful questions about what you have heard? If you don’t, eventually, people won’t want to follow you. • You don’t show up Countless leadership studies tell us that exemplary leaders are those who are able to show that they have uncertain moments and flaws. To be an authentic leader you must reveal some of your real self, show what you are working on improving, and demonstrate how important this process is for all of us to practise.
Jill Bausch is a social impact advisor to MBAs at London Business School and the author of Why Brave Women Win (Leaders Press, 2022)
“The new, successful renaissance leader has lots of interests in and out of the workplace and lets their staff know it, encouraging them to do the same”
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