Discovering and Developing Your Leadership Skills

 When we think about working, our first thoughts always go to money--how much will I get paid for doing this job? The second thing that comes to mind is the work itself--what will I have to do to get paid? Next on the list is generally something about co-workers--who are the people I will be working with and what are they like?

 Here at Brady's West, we encourage you to think deeply about another issue--an issue that we think is actually as important as these issues, and but is often overlooked. This issue of primary importance because it involves life-long skills that, over the long run, will help you earn more money, do your job more effectively, and help you establish and nourish successful relationships with your co-workers.

 That issue is leadership--what leadership skills can you develop at your job? It doesn't matter whether you are working part-time or full-time, are younger or older, or are planning on staying at Brady's West for a season or for many years, there is always something you can learn about becoming leadership. The really interesting thing about developing leadership skills is that they will transfer from job to job--that is, whatever leadership skills you develop here, you can take with you to your next job.

 What Do You Need to Do to Learn Leadership Skills at Brady's West?

 The answer to this question is actually quite simple: PAY ATTENTION. In other words, be observant of what's happening around you in the workplace. Of course, you will focus on your particular duties, whatever they might be--working at the cash registrar, in perennials, in the tree and shrub yard, and so on. However, you should also pay attention to what's going in the background and ask yourself questions such as

·      How is the business organized and how does this organization contribute to its success?

·      What sorts of decisions do managers make? How are these decisions made?

·      How do managers collaborate to work efficiently with each other throughout the day?

·      How do managers encourage and motivate their staff?

·      How do managers communicate with their staff and with each other?

·      How do managers handle things that go wrong?

·      How do managers oversee the day-to-day operations of the business?

 Finding answers to these sorts of questions will provide you significant insight into the leadership qualities of the Brady's West team and will positively impact how you perceive and perform your work. By simply paying attention to what is going on around you at work, you will become more aware of leadership in action--and sometimes that may reveal areas in which leadership could be improved. And that's okay because leadership qualities, like other personal qualities, are always works in progress. That brings us to the heart of our discussion: What qualities does an effective leader possess?

 10 Qualities of Effective Leaders

 Knowledgeable. Effective leaders know their stuff backwards and forwards in every position they have ever held in their company. For you, this means that you should do your best to learn everything you can about your current position here at Brady's West--and if you can, cross-train in another area.

 Enthusiastic. Effective leaders are passionate about their work. In fact, after being knowledgeable about their business, passion is the second most important characteristic of being an effective leader. For you, this means that as you learn more and more about your work at Brady's West, you will become more confident in what you know, and thus more enthusiastic in sharing your knowledge and expertise with your customers. Enthusiasm is the basis for inspiring others to do their best work.

 Clear Communication. Effective leaders know how to communicate with their workers, colleagues. and bosses. For you, this means that you should strive to clearly communicate your ideas, thoughts, suggestions, and questions to those around you. In other words, don't be shy! If you have a suggestion for how Brady's West might do something better, share it with your manager and others.

 Good Listening Skills. Effective leaders are not just all about sharing their perspectives with others--they are also good listeners. They take the time to hear what others are saying and incorporate others' thoughts and ideas into their own thinking. For you, this means that you should seek out colleagues and managers to understand their ideas and use those ideas to help you frame your own perspectives on how to do your job more effectively.

 Vision. Effective leaders know what needs to be done in their business not just today but in the future--and they do it. For you, this means that as you learn your job, you will become better at anticipating what work needs to be done next, and do it without having to be told--you will become proactive in your job. This skill takes time to develop, and once it does, you have truly gained insight into the bigger picture of what work at Brady's West is all about. Just as importantly, you will begin to "see" how your work is essential to the overall mission of the company and how it relates to what your colleagues are doing in their respective positions.

 Establish Priorities. Effective leaders know what is and what is not essential to the success of their business and take steps to prioritize their goals. For you, this means that you should learn what actions are absolutely essential to your position, and eliminate those activities that are counterproductive in meeting your goals. The ability to establish priorities in your work--and meeting those objectives--goes hand-in-hand with developing a vision for your work and becoming more confident in yourself.

 Responsibility. Effective leaders take responsibility for their actions--both successes and failures. They also take responsibility for creating a positive working atmosphere so that employees are efficient in their work and enjoy it as well. For you, this means that you should do your best to contribute in positive ways to the working environment at Brady's West and strive to be accountable in your work--taking credit for your successes as well striving to work hard in those areas in which you need improvement.

 Respectful and Empathetic. Effective leaders strive to understand the needs and concerns of their staff and respect each employee as an individual. They demonstrate empathy for their staff and work within their capacity as leaders to ensure the safety and happiness of each employee in the work setting. For you, this means that you should conduct yourself likewise: showing compassion for your coworkers. Much of what being respectful and empathic entails is simply being kind and understanding toward people. These qualities are the foundation for establishing trusting and caring relationships with others.

 Helpful. Above all, effective leaders are helpful. Their job is not only to benefit the company's bottom line, but also to help their staff do their jobs well. In other words, an effective leader provides advice and wise counsel to their staff in how to do their jobs more efficiently, and through their actions, demonstrate how to do the job with a high level of skill. For you, this means that, as you learn more and more about your job, you will be able to share this new knowledge with others who may need it, and by your example, demonstrate the skills required for mastery of your work.

 Humility. Effective leaders are generally humble--particularly when they make mistakes. Rather than become upset at themselves or blame others, they strive to learn from their errors, and "do better next time." For you, this means that you should realize that you will make mistakes--we all do, and that is okay. The key is to turn those mistakes to your advantage, so that you learn from them, and continue to improve developing your particular skill sets. Don't let mistakes trouble you too much; get over them, move on, do better the next time. You will find that the Brady's West team will help you every step of the way.

 We encourage not to look at your work here only as a means getting a paycheck. Sure, getting paid is important, but it is not the only valuable thing you can gain from working. Always ask yourself, how else can this job benefit me? The answer to that question will always something about how you might develop personally--as an individual, as a worker, and as a leader. So, pay attention to what is going around you, work hard, and strive to reach your potential at every level every day.