Credibility is the foundation of effective leadership.

Today’s post is by Alain Hunkins, author of Cracking the Leadership Code (CLICK HERE to get your copy).

Clint is the co-founder of a software company that’s experienced rapid growth over the past three years.  He’s smart, outgoing, and great in front of customers.  In fact, Clint is the sales team’s go-to to close big accounts.  The sales team has nicknamed him Midas, because everything he touches turns to gold. On top of all that, Clint’s a genuinely nice guy.

However, for all of his strengths, Clint has a tragic flaw.  He’s consistently late for meetings.  Ten, twenty, thirty minutes late is par for the course with Clint, and sometime more.  Clint is also the master of coming up with reasons why he’s late—this customer meeting went long, that operational issue needed his time, the traffic from the airport was atrocious.

However, as much as Clint tries to explain each instance away, his team’s not having it anymore.  Clint’s invisibility is having a visible impact on engagement and morale—from the top straight on down.  Whether he realizes it or not, Clint’s been shooting his credibility in the foot.  It’s hurting his leadership and having an impact on the company.

If you want to be a great leader, and have those you lead perform at their best, the onus is on you to create an effective leader-follower relationship. You set the tone. You lay the groundwork of connection for what that relationship will become. The first step on that journey is establishing your credibility.

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Communication is not only a necessary skill, but it can be the difference between getting the job, saving your company millions, and ultimate workplace harmony.

Today’s post is by Katy Kvalvik.

To be an effective leader, you must be an effective communicator. To be an effective communicator, you must believe in the value of every conversation. Improving the way you communicate can evoke a greater connection in all of your personal relationships and have a positive impact on your professional interactions. According to a new worldwide survey, communication is one of the most highly prized soft skills for talent today.

When the stakes are high, solidify your role as a team player, problem-solver, or indispensable leader by honing these five essential communication skills:

Listen and Be Present

In order to communicate effectively, it is important that you have genuine respect for the other person’s view of the world. All people have different ways of experiencing life and the world around them (different beliefs, values, filters, etc.). By listening deeply in order to understand and respect these differences instead of judging, better and more efficient communication will occur. Effective, deep listening promotes better understanding, reduces conflict, and enhances relationships.

You can improve your listening skills by practicing Objective Active and Intuitive Listening. Objective Active listening is being in the moment and completely focused on the other person. You’re getting the facts versus getting all the details of a subjective story. It’s very effective for problem-solving. Using it in a professional environment helps the listener see facts clearly and arrive at timely, accurate solutions that maximize results.

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The difference between a good leader and a great leader may be their ability to be authentic.

Today’s post is by Katy McQuaid, author of Everybody Loves Grace (CLICK HERE to get your copy).

If you’ve ever worked with an authentic leader, you understand how empowering it can be.  Authentic leaders aren’t very common and once you’ve worked with one, you’ll never want to work with anyone but an authentic leader again.

Why is that?  Because authentic leaders are self-aware, genuine and they lead from the heart – they bring out the best in people. Most importantly, they can be counted on to do the right thing because they know their core values and live by them.  Authentic leaders create an environment where their values are known and they are willing to be held accountable to them; they are transparent.

Ultimately, an authentic leader inspires trust, loyalty, and confidence within their workforce which drives optimal results, mission success, and personal growth. They create an environment where employees can grow and learn by taking risks.  In addition, the authentic leader understands the need to focus on the long-term.  He or she will not sacrifice their long-term vision for a short-term quick win.

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