How Leaders Create Leaders

Every employee should have leadership skills, not just the executives.

There’s an old saying that goes “If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” That’s an entirely incorrect way of thinking, though, because one of the best things a leader can do is to create more leaders. As Jeff Mask wrote for Forbes, “Leadership that separates good leaders from great leaders, is leadership that builds other leaders.” When managers develop leadership skills in their team members, it creates an enduring culture at a company, ensuring long-term success.
Every employee should have leadership skills, not just the executives. How can organizations encourage all of their employees to think and act like leaders? 

Set An Example of a Leader

If your employees are to learn about leadership, they need to see it in action. Remember that the way you act around your team can affect how they act as leaders. Foster a positive environment where your employees feel free to come to you with questions, and give them the leeway to make important decisions.

Let Them Flex Their Decision Making Muscles

In order to develop leaders on your team, you can’t maintain constant control. That stifles your team’s ability to develop decision-making skills. Trust your employees. Encouraging them to make decisions, and possibly mistakes, will help boost their confidence. Trust is an important part of any work relationship, so show your team you trust them, and they in turn will pass that on to their teams one day.
Encouraging your team members to make these decisions empowers them, and helps them learn leadership on the job. Giving them more responsibility gives them the opportunity to step up. Let them know you believe in them.

Develop Their Delegating Skills

One of the biggest challenges about leadership is letting go. Unlike the quote at the beginning of this article, in a fast-paced, dynamic workplace you can’t do everything. There just isn’t enough time. A more appropriate quote is the ancient Chinese proverb: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
That’s why delegating is so critical – train your employees how to complete a task, and then step back and let them own it. Smart delegating means matching the talent with the task, and it’s something great leaders do every day.
The right e-learning platform can help you develop the best leadership training program for your organization. MasteryTCN can help with your company’s workplace training. Our training content network offers a library of over 700+ e-learning courses, including a library of courses on leadership. For more information on how we can help your employees strengthen their leadership skills, visit the Mastery Training Content Network.
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