5 things to do when you’re ‘in charge’
If you are in a leadership role, your job is never done, and depending on your context your responsibilities can span a whole range of activities. But I want to focus here on five core duties that are fundamental to a leader’s job.
Grow leaders:
As you work with people, your guidance and direction must leave them more capable and confident than they were before working with you. When they are struggling, find a way to pull them up, when they are excelling give them opportunity to challenge themselves even further. Whatever you do, check that they are growing and not just ‘doing work’.
Build trust:
This is one of the most difficult things to achieve. But trust is critical to leadership. Where this seems impossible for whatever reason, aim to get to a place where you can at least earn the benefit of the doubt from those who have responsibility over. Trust building is a process so never give up working on it. Some common trust-busting behaviour include: transparency, listening and empathy.
Create clarity:
Set your team in a position to succeed by giving proper instruction and assistance where needed. Take a regular reality check that you’re being understood; that your expectations are clearly communicated; and that you are addressing whatever is undermining performance.
Lead by example:
Role modelling comes with the territory of ‘being in charge’. Often ask yourself: what behaviours are you demanding of others that you are not demonstrating yourself? What are your actions saying about your values? What lines will you not cross? Are you delivering the high performance you demand of others? Remember, your moral authority is as important as your positional power.
Control your day:
When you are in charge, being organised is essential. You are busy. No two days are ever the same. But you must find a way to bring some order, especially if others’ work for the day derives from yours. A ‘priority to do list’ may not work 100 percent but can be a useful basic step to reining things in.
Now take action:
How are you developing those under your charge?
