The 6 Top Challenges Leaders Face (Part 2 of 3)

In my previous post, I mentioned six of the top leadership challenges leaders are facing and focused on one of those challenges: developing managerial effectiveness. Today, I'll focus on three more of the challenges: inspiring others, developing employees and leading a team. These three are all related to the relationship-orientated part of leadership.

Relationship orientated leadership is more important in today’s context of work. As recent studies reflect, organizations worldwide are suffering with high rates of employee dissatisfaction and disengagement. Very serious problems that must be recognized, tackled and resolved at the highest levels of leadership.  Additionally, at the same time, these same organizations are encouraging leaders to pursue and participate in relationships that develop their direct reports and team members. Clearly, leaders need to build and maintain relationships by inspiring others, developing others, and leading their team members individually and collectively. 

While developing relationships with others is a huge challenge, here are some other things to consider:

1. Take an active role in coaching, mentoring and developing others.

Provide challenging opportunities for others, promote your employees, trumpet their successes and empower others to increase their area of competence. Support your people by providing guidance and feedback.

2. Meet the needs of your employees.

It’s not just about making sure that your employees have the right software or office supplies, You also have to meet their psychological and social needs. Many people need to be validated by others and desire to be part of something. A leader must meet the differing needs of the many individuals with whom they work on a daily basis.

3. Manage team effectiveness.

Make sure your team has a clear purpose, strong support and effectively shares information among the group and with important stakeholders outside of the group.

In our next blog, we’ll focus on the remaining two challenges and look at opportunities for leaders to consider in these areas.

How would you begin to break through your thoughts, emotions and actions to becoming a better leader? We would love to hear from you with comments or questions. Send me a note via email at brad@aperiocoaching.net or on Twitter @bparcells.

In Latin, Aperio means to reveal, uncover, to make clear. Coaching is a powerful process that enables the client to reveal and illuminate their authentic style via a sharp focus on who they are at their core.