To climb the corporate ladder, you have to make successful shifts. Job Title doesn’t indicate that you are a great leader. There are few career transitions that are more challenging than generating a move from manager to leader
What’s the main difference between a manager and a leader?
Effective managers can be described as organized and detail-oriented individuals and, moreover, they are project-focused. On the contrary, dynamic leaders are visionary individuals who motivate teams to go over and above. Adapting their management style to the individual, a leader, gets the most out of each team member.
In the future, to go to the next level you need to polish and increase the skills that got you where you are today. The process of moving from manager to leader includes rigorous training and focus. The below-described strategies may help your journey of making a smooth transition from a manager to a leader.
Motivations from Leader
A great leader just doesn’t tell the team to what to do, rather paves the way for them about how to do it. By tapping into your own conscious purpose and manifesting that to your own team, this transition from manager to leader happens.
The employees that are truly inspired by and proud of the values communicated by their leaders, certainly not only they will prove themselves better in good times, but also perform when the times are tough. That is to say that inspirational leaders create motivated employees, and at times motivated employees remain loyal.
True leader doesn’t stop learning. They will keep learning and improve themselves.
“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”
-John F. Kennedy
To Show Vision
Leader will show the vision of the company, so that team will inspire. While defining the tone for the culture of the company, effective leaders learn how to communicate big ideas not just to the management, but to everyone in the company.
“The single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on leadership development. There is almost no limit to the potential of an organization that recruits good people, raises them up as leaders and continually develops them.”
-John Maxwell
The overall vision of the company is created and derived by the leaders so effectively that it becomes a shared vision.
Transparency
According to a survey by Harvard Business School, 7 out of every 10 employees said that they are most involved when the higher management communicates sincerely and openly. For a leader, setting the foundation for transparent communication is important as openness and honesty create trust among your employees. This practice, as a result, makes your team comfortable and, in turn, open up to you.
Emotional Intelligence
With the essential traditional management skills, a higher level of emotional intelligence is a necessity to sustain and inspire teams. People with greater EQ (emotional intelligence) are great listeners.
Big No to Micromanagement
Even if you were completely involved in all angles of the job, the growth of your team can severely be limited. To scale your operations more effectively, it is ultimate to develop a group of talented people around you to rely upon. It also helps to create opportunities for your direct reports to build and enhance new skills.
Leaders will delegate among the team member and monitor wisely.
To achieve common goals, great leaders, foster the strengths and talents of their employees. Although moving from manager to leader is a thrilling journey, it is not without challenges. But when you become successful, the rewards for both you and the company are immense.
Author: Sharmin Rahman
Editor: Anik
Photo: Lukas
