HOW TO INCREASE GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY AS A LEADER

As we navigate the constantly evolving landscape of leadership, it's important to continuously develop and improve our skills to stay ahead of the curve. Whether you're leading a small team or an entire organization, your habits and practices can greatly impact your ability to be effective and influential.?Are there strategies we can use as leaders to increase growth and productivity? I guess you answered yes! We’ll explore some of those tips and strategies for increasing growth and productivity as an effective leader in this edition of newsletter.

?

Let me tell you a story of a time when I was an undergraduate leader. I was leading a team of fellow students to prepare for our professional exam as a discussion group and we seem to be doing well until a particular period. Despite the team’s dedication and enthusiasm, we were not working together efficiently and our productivity suffered as a result. It got to a moment that I knew I had to be proactive in finding a way to help our team to become more effective. And I can tell you, the strategies I learnt and practiced then have been the foundation of how I continue to lead even as I ascend the leadership ladder later in life.

?

You see, one of the first things I learnt to do and which we all need to do is to have a proactive mindset towards growth and productivity.

?

As leaders and managers, our jobs involve setting strategic vision for our team as well as optimizing for efficiency and productivity. For us to reach these potentials and achieve our goals we must grow, and to grow we must be highly intentional about it. Invariably what we do not change will not be changed. We must realize that growth, both personal and organizational, does not just happen but by us developing habits that can help us increase productivity. There is no quick fix to effective leadership and organizational growth, simple Band-Aid will only yield short-term solutions.

We need to have a clear goal and our set of values in mind every day.

Goals are essential for providing direction and motivation, and can help to keep us focused on what's most important for our organizations. First ask yourself what you're trying to accomplish and why you are trying to do so. This is what I call making plain the vision! And when setting goals, it’s important to make sure they are specific, measurable, and achievable. Breaking down larger goals into smaller and manageable steps makes progress more achievable for us.

?

In the same vein, in setting our values we should ensure they’re based on timeless and unchanging principles by which we want to live our lives and lead our organizations. This is especially important for us as we live in a generation where many organizations play down on value to doing just anything to make more profit. We must align our reward system with our goals and values.

Practice prioritization, this is plain simple.

Being able to manage time effectively is an essential skill for a leader to have for day-to-day execution of goals. This can also help one to be more productive and reduce stress. In implementing goals, you must learn to prioritize tasks, delegate responsibilities, and avoid procrastination. These are simple yet fundamental skills to learn as a leader.

?

It is important to also learn to make decisions and take actions based on what is important and not just what is most urgent. Using the Pareto Principle, set out to do the 20% of tasks that can help you reach 80% of your targets or goals; that sounds smart isn’t it? Doing this can drastically ensure your team’s overall productivity level skyrocket, taking your profits right along with it.

Talking more about mindset, it’s important to develop a mindset of mutual benefit as a leader.

As you would have realized, leadership is about relationship and we should create one that is naturally beneficial and satisfying to all. As a leader we must exemplify a genuine character and make those we lead see our authentic interest in their personal growth and development. Personally, I’ve found this quite rewarding.

In my profession as a physician, we do not make diagnosis or prescribe medications to our patients without first taking time to listen to them and hear their problems and concerns. Even so as leaders, make it a habit to listen actively to what your team members are saying, and ask clarifying questions to better understand their perspectives and needs. By this we can build trust, inspire openness, foster teamwork, drive progress, and give credibility to our leadership.

This is one of the major steps I took during what I call my leadership development as an undergraduate leader; of course I’m still growing. I remember having to ask my teammates individually then about their concerns and opinions as regard the team’s challenges, and I was amazed by their feedbacks and level of insights. Those open discussions opened up areas for growth both for me as a leader and for our group.

We all as leaders can also learn to cultivate synergy in our teams which allows everyone to feed on one another’s insights and ideas freely. By doing this we are able to value differences and optimize it, create a culture of interdependence that can stir growth of our organization and catalyze creativity. I believe this is one of the key traits that make an agile team, and every organization needs that.

?

And still on important strategies to improve productivity, it is a great practice to seek continuous learning and development

I’ve realized that leaders who are committed to continuous learning and development are more likely to stay current and relevant in their field, and better equipped to navigate challenges and opportunities. So, make it a habit to attend training sessions, read books and articles, and seek out mentorship or coaching opportunities. They’re always worth it.

?

One particular book I found really helpful in this regard is THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE by Stephen Covey. I found it highly instructive for me as a leader who wants to be more effective and productive, and I have provided a link for those who want to be committed to continuous learning and development here.

?

Another habit to develop is celebrating successes, both big and small. Learn to recognize the achievements of your team members as a leader and take time to reflect on what you've accomplished together. Celebrating successes can help to build morale, reinforce positive behaviors, and create a culture of achievement and progress.

Finally, self-care is an important habit for productivity. As leaders, we should prioritize self-care as a habit to maintain energy and well-being. This can include habits like exercise, healthy eating, mindfulness practices, and regular breaks. Taking care of oneself can help to prevent burnout, increase resilience, and improve one’s ability to lead effectively.

Your habits as a leader sure play a crucial role in your ability to grow and be productive. Good habits can help you to become more efficient, focused, and effective, while bad habits can hold you back and limit your potential. I will like you to reflect on your own leadership experience.

?

What is the one habit/strategy you’ve developed as a leader that has had the biggest impact on your team’s productivity? How have you been able to motivate team members who may be struggling with productivity or feeling burn out?

?

I will be glad to hear your thoughts as well!