Part of leadership development is self-reflection, assessment and then working to improve skills and behaviors that can help you succeed in your position. If you’re in a leadership position, it’s helpful every once in a while to stop and ask yourself the following questions.
1. Do you understand emotions — both your own and others?
High emotional intelligence has been linked to effective leadership. Understanding and managing emotions is a critical skill needed to navigate complex interpersonal relationships and high-stress business situations. Assessing your emotional intelligence can provide insights into your leadership effectiveness.
2. Do you share your vision for future goals?
Having a high-level strategic goal for an organization is extremely important. It’s also crucial that this vision is effectively communicated to employees. Businesses are more effective and successful when everyone is onboard with goals and are working toward the same outcome.
3. Do you develop skills and encourage employee growth?
Most people want to grow in their positions—learn new skills and take on more responsibility. An effective leader understands this and actively works to encourage employee development.
4. Do you empower others?
Trusting employees to make decisions about the business and including them in strategic decision-making sessions can significantly boost engagement. Highly engaged employees are then more likely to invest time and effort in the organization, which can help it succeed. As a leader, it’s worthwhile to analyze how—and if—you empower those around you.
If you answered no to any of the above questions, it’s important to have an objective assessment of your leadership qualities. Understanding areas you need improvement can help make you an even more effective leader.
Do you need help identifying and developing effective leadership behaviors? Envision Global Leadership’s ALII-Map Enterprise assessment is a research-based, statistically valid instrument focused on influence behaviors, including emotional intelligence.
Our program provides mid- to senior-level workers with insight into the strength of their influence and helps organizations develop future leadership. Reach out today to learn more about our assessment and how you can invest in your organization’s future.
