Exceptional leadership is key to inspiring and guiding a team. Millennials, in particular, seek leaders they can admire and learn from, yet great leaders are often in short supply. To help improve leadership skills, it’s beneficial to learn from successful examples, such as Google’s approach. Google has identified the top 10 behaviors of its best managers through extensive internal surveys. These behaviors have been shared with their leaders, resulting in improved turnover, satisfaction, and performance. Here are Google’s top 10 leadership behaviors and insights on how to apply them:
Be a Good Coach: Effective leaders provide regular feedback and follow-up, helping team members improve their performance. Great coaches address both positive and negative behaviors promptly.
Empower Your Team and Avoid Micromanaging: Trusting your team to do their jobs well is crucial. Empowering your team motivates them and demonstrates your confidence in their abilities. Micromanaging, on the other hand, can undermine this trust.
Create an Inclusive Team Environment: A successful leader fosters a team culture where everyone feels valued. This includes treating all team members as equals, showing empathy, and understanding what drives each individual.
Focus on Productivity and Results: Leaders should set clear expectations and hold themselves accountable for achieving key performance indicators (KPIs). Productivity and results-oriented leadership ensure that the team remains focused on goals.
Communicate Effectively: Good communication involves both listening and sharing information. Team members need to be informed about progress and challenges, but they also want their concerns and issues to be heard.
Support Career Development: It’s important to show that you care about your team’s professional growth. Discussing performance and career progression helps team members understand how they can improve and advance.
Have a Clear Vision and Strategy: A leader must communicate the big picture to the team. Understanding how their work contributes to broader goals helps team members feel more connected to their roles.
Possess Key Technical Skills: A leader with relevant technical expertise can guide and mentor team members more effectively, setting an example and providing valuable insights.
Collaborate Across the Organization: Breaking down silos within an organization is essential. Leaders should encourage communication and collaboration across departments to enhance overall business performance.
Be a Strong Decision-Maker: Effective leaders make decisions confidently, even if they occasionally make mistakes. This decisiveness shows empowerment and encourages a proactive approach within the team.
To improve your leadership skills, assess yourself against these behaviors and identify areas for growth. Consider asking your team for feedback to ensure alignment with their expectations and needs.
Roger Simpson – CEO, The Retail Solution and Author of “The Ultimate Retail Sales Experience” With over 35 years’ industry experience, Roger Simpson is recognized as Australia’s #1 Authority on customer ROI in the retail industry and as a global expert on staff coaching, customer service, and selling skills.
