As a business manager, you must understand the difference that lies between holding the position of just a boss and having the qualities of a leader. A boss orders, but a leader is an individual who guides. While a boss manages, a leader is someone who knows how to inspire. The main difference lies in the effect you have on your employees and how much you value the relationship that you have with them. A potent leader knows that it is their responsibility to see things from a different perspective than that of someone who knows just how to boss around. They realize that they need to inspire, and nurture the employees and set an example. Use the following tips to become an ethical leader.
Define Your Values
You might have come across the aphorism in your childhood that stated that ‘’treat people the way you want them to treat you.’’ Remember? Or something like ‘help others in need’ or ‘don’t forget to say thank you, etc.? However, as you grow and come into contact with the evolution of society, you probably experience a change in the conventions that lead to a shift in your values. This is probably the toughest challenge that your ethics comes face to face at the workplace or in society. What you need to do is to ask yourself what seems important to you as a human being. Align that with the priorities you have as a leader. If you define your values, your team would automatically be inspired to do the same.
Employ People Who Possess Similar Values
Yes, your values needn’t be the same as those who are working under you. However, there needs to be a common ground on which you can interact with them. Of course, you can’t expect every individual to be a perfect fit for your company. In that case, companies must hire people whose values are aligned with theirs rather than taking people on board based on their experience. It’s important to hire employees with different perspectives and experiences since they have the potential to come up with solutions to the various challenges they face. With that being said, hiring people who have common values might prove to be a critical process. In the absence of mutual respect, forming a dynamic team is damn tough.
Open Communication Is Important
Irrespective of sharing common values, every employee is different from the others. With every decision you come up with, you have to be transparent and encourage your team to provide feedback. This is one of the necessary steps you should take if you aim to be a better leader and instill confidence in your workers. This will help them share their ideas with more conviction. One of the primary responsibilities that a modern company must have is to build up an environment that encourages open communication that everyone pays heed to. Though companies can’t stoop down to every demand that an employee might have, you must listen to their point of view. Garnering all kinds of feedback from your team helps you improve your leadership skills. This, in the due course of time, will be beneficial for your team and your business as well.
Being Biased Won’t Help
As human beings, we might have certain beliefs that are either erroneous or outdated. You wouldn’t find a leader who will be willing to accept their flaws. However, self-awareness is pretty much important to avoid any kind of consequences that are completely uncalled for. Having biased thoughts and opinions for a long time wouldn’t be of any help. These days, the workforce seems to be more diverse and as a result, a lot of unexposed biases are coming out in the open. Managers, in this case, need to be practical and introspection is necessary. If you are a leader who is open to every opinion, you are bound to create as well as maintain healthy relationships with the employees.
You must set an example for others. Be a role model for those working under you. That’s the stuff real leaders are made up of. Care for yourself first so that you can care for others. Being a boss is easy. Leading from the front is not.