3 Questions That Reveal Whether You're an Effective Leader

As plenty of employees will tell you, bad leaders are everywhere – and one bad leader can bring down an entire organization . The best leaders are good coaches, listeners, supporters, and experts; and while it’s always nice to hear these compliments from your team, it can be difficult to self-evaluate. So, how can you know if you're one of the bad apples or if you're doing just fine despite your hesitations? Just ask yourself a few key questions.

1. Do my team members feel comfortable asking for help?

The hectic pace of the work day, combined with the global, increasingly “work-anywhere ” nature of business might make it more difficult than in the past to connect with your workers as much as you'd like; but when your workers reach out to you through chats, by popping into your [virtual] office, or sending an email, it signals that they trust your expertise and feel comfortable enough to bring issues to you. By contrast, if people on your team struggle to ask questions or seek clarifications, or if they constantly bypass you to discuss issues with someone else, that's a big red flag that you've created an environment where they don't feel safe, heard, or respected.

2. How do people debate what I say?

Good leaders ensure that their teams feel comfortable enough giving their opinions in any circumstance, even if those opinions might not be popular. This kind of civil, trust-filled debate enables team-based critical thinking, fact-checking, and good decision making that teams won't walk back on. So, you actually want your team to respectfully poke each other a little. The best leaders have teams that trust and respect their leaders enough to present their disagreements, but also know the boundaries between debating and insubordination. Clear communication and strong listening skills are key for this.?

3. Am I able to walk away?

As a leader, it's easy to get so invested in something that you struggle to let go, especially because our work can become intertwined with our sense of identity. But those who are most effective routinely delegate or sell their businesses. They know they can't do everything alone and they understand that finding others who can handle the toughest responsibilities will free them to move to other opportunities and ventures. This strategy also allows leaders to bring the best out of their workers and challenge them in positive ways because it promotes rising from within.?

Some individuals find it naturally easy to answer "yes" to the questions above, but if one or more of these points is a sticky area for you, don't worry. Leadership is something you can get better at. By asking for honest feedback, keeping an open mind, and making a conscious effort to develop new, small habits that can benefit you every day, you can achieve the manner of thought and behavior people want to follow and you can train yourself to be a good leader – or an even better one.

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Tom Popomaronis is Executive Vice President of Innovation at Massive Alliance, a global executive branding agency. Tom co-founded Massive's Executive Leadership Branding program – which transforms world-class executives into contributing authors at leading publications.

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