About Enhancing Leadership Productivity Skills

checklistDo you believe that some people are just naturally born to leadership while others are not? Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, never accepted these limitations on his players’ potential; he said, “Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.”  “Fine,” you might think, “That may be true for athletes who do physical training all the time. But business leadership isn’t like sports, it’s different.”

Not so, according to Warren Bennis, the American scholar and author on leadership. Like Lombardi, he declared that, “The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born—that there is a genetic factor to leadership. This myth asserts that people simply either have certain charismatic qualities or not. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.”

It doesn’t matter if the realm is athletics, the arts or business: even the most naturally talented person benefits from guidance, training and perseverance.

In this age of rapid social and technological change, cutthroat competition and dwindling resources, complacency is not an option. It is more crucial than ever for employees to step up into leadership roles, and for leaders to adapt and grow their abilities. Whatever your starting point—small team or large corporation— you will benefit from continuous improvement of your leadership performance. You can develop and enhance your leadership skills to achieve greater workplace synergy and productivity.

Leadership Productivity Self-Check

A first step toward enhanced productivity is to examine the components of your leadership skills at present. While you might think, “Oh, I’m much too busy for that,” reviewing your strengths, challenges and knowledge gaps can actually help break the vicious cycle of running around putting out fires instead of preventing crises. Leaders need to bring the same critical eye to their own skills and productivity as they do to those of their co-workers and employees.

Take some time to consider areas that you wish could “get better.” You may not be aware of certain “best practices” which have been linked to effective leadership. Leadership involves not just knowing what to do and making decisions, but also having the skills to engage people and bring your plans to fruition. For some of the best and brightest, a subtle, unrecognized attention issue or learning difference may undermine their best leadership efforts.

Begin by analyzing some components of your leadership productivity with this brief self-check.

Leadership Productivity

I schedule sufficient time for analytical and/or creative thought.

Rarely

Sometimes

Never

I generate ideas but don’t ensure implementation/evaluation. 

Rarely

Sometimes

Never

I’m bombarded by distractions that hamper my productivity.               

Rarely

Sometimes

Never

Stress interferes with my ability to focus the way I need to.

Rarely

Sometimes

Never

I schedule regular opportunities to get feedback from others. 

Rarely

Sometimes

Never

Performance Appraisals or 360° Evaluations suggest that
training/coaching would be beneficial.  

Rarely

Sometimes

Never

Team Leadership

My leadership style is aligned with the firm’s mission, values, and goals.

Rarely

Sometimes

Never

I consider or ask others about their interests/skills when assigning tasks.

Rarely

Sometimes

Never

I schedule regular opportunities to provide positive monitoring and
feedback to team members.   

Rarely

Sometimes

Never

I act as a model, coach and/or mentor.

Rarely

Sometimes

Never

I inspire others to excel or exceed expectations.         

Rarely

Sometimes

Never

I provide positive consequences for jobs well done.

Rarely

Sometimes

Never

Download the Self Check

Do your answers reflect gaps in your leadership practices? If yes, and if you are experiencing feelings of workplace dissatisfaction and frustration, now is the time to take action to boost your leadership skills. If you have questions or concerns, below are some resources to increase insights and provide some strategies. For more in-depth analysis and skill building, consider Geri’s leadership coaching or team development seminars.

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Resources

If you’re interested in some insights about Team Leadership, take a look at the article, “The 5 Hidden Barriers to Performance: Helping employees overcome them and achieve breakthroughs in overall performance.”

If you’re interested in some insights about Leadership Productivity (especially distractions and interruptions related to technology), take a look at the article, “Conquer the Demons of Distraction.”  Also, you can listen to the interview about fatigue and productivity, “5 Steps to Ensure the Downward Spiral of Fatigue (and How to Avoid Them).”

If you or others have ever thought that a factor inhibiting your leadership productivity might be an attention issue such as ADD, take a look at the article, “Distractibility, Inattention, and Disorganization: Do I Have ADD or ADHD?”

Studies have shown that positive attitude, workplace satisfaction and productivity go hand-in-hand. If you or your team experience continued unhappiness and dissatisfaction, you might want to read about some ways of moving toward a happier state: “Finding Happiness with Aristotle as Your Guide: Action Strategies Based on 10 Timeless Ideas.”

Learn more about Dr. Markel’s coaching. Also, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions, our most requested programs, and books, or contact us directly.