"What do you think is next on the horizon for improving performance?’’

I believe the most important "thing" these days is relearning and re-emphasizing the basics.

Somehow in the search for the ‘new thing’, we have lost track of basic management skills that will create great and strong leadership. In the post-Covid subdued business climate, it makes sense to hold steadily to what we know to be essential and successful rather than hunting for ‘new things that may or may not succeed.

The important thing to keep in mind is that the role of the leader is to influence, engage, and encourage people to act around a common goal.

So, let us look at some basic principles which should be in the arsenal of people who are leading.

1.??There has to be a vision and it needs to be communicated.

(‘Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.’ – Jonathan Swift)

Aspirational leaders paint a picture of the future of the organization which is long term. Without a vision, people still end up working but not many goals are achieved. The vision brings the entire team to a common goal and accelerates performance.

The vision answers the question: where the organization is going. Having a vision is only the first step. It needs to be communicated to all, not just once but many times.

2.??Employees need to be recognized.

("People work for money but go the extra mile for recognition, praise, and rewards."?-- Dale Carnegie, Leadership Training Guru)

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Employees want to feel appreciated. ?It is how excellence is encouraged over time, and how it stays strong even in times of high stress.

Managers still often overlook the positive impact of this simple, yet effective leadership strategy. When a culture of gratitude and recognition is created, each employee will pick it up and start to recognize each other on their own. This creates a great sense of community and cohesion that motivates everyone to perform at their highest level.

3.??Empower and delegate more often.

(“Delegation is not a sign of weakness, but of strength.”

– Steve Jobs)

One of the best ways to engage your team is to?empower them by delegating greater responsibility. Find areas where you can give people the responsibility and, importantly, the authority to get things done. The reality is that a leader can not perpetually do everything that needs to get done. You need others who are empowered to complete critical tasks.

4.??Sharpen your listening skills.

(“I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So, if I’m going to learn, I must do it by listening.”

— Larry King, CNN)

Listening is a skill, and most of us do not have it. As a leader, it is essential that you absorb the information given to you by a speaker, showing that you are listening and interested, and providing feedback to the speaker so that he or she knows the message was received.?

?Not easy, but doable.

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5.??Micromanaging does not get results.

(It's time to get rid of the micromanagement style. Develop micro encouragement. It's our role to innovate in how we lead our organization's people.' - Janna Cachola)

Focusing too much on minute details and micromanaging employees does not yield good results.

Avoid micromanaging by letting go of perfectionism and?empower employees?to experiment with approaches to completing tasks. This instills positivity and appreciation amongst the employees and better results become a norm.

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6.??Feedback is a two-way street.

(We all need people who will give us feedback. That's how we improve.”- Bill Gates)

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Honest feedback is important and necessary. Regularly give informal, constructive comments to your employees—rather than waiting for annual review periods—this way you build more robust working relationships with them.

When giving feedback to others – we should allow others to give feedback to us. We should value the fact that we have people who disagree because in the process it can clarify our thinking.

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We all need to relearn and apply these principles, which may be outdated but still yield spectacular results if used.

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(‘The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read or write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.’ – Alvin Toffler)

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