I decided to clear out my clutter today in order to streamline my office and allow my creative juices to flow!

Some of the clutter were old files of my Language School that I sold in 2000 in order to become a business coach.  I looked through the photos and comments from a variety of people including students, teachers, admin staff and group leaders.  I had forgotten just how many people had passed though the doors since the very start of the school in 1988 and how I had managed to survive!  Particularly as there was so many other language schools in Brighton & Hove.

I was certainly not a particularly good leader when I started the school.  I had had a variety of teaching jobs all over the world and some experience of  setting up and managing businesses.   (I had set up a school in Poland and Switzerland too) so those experiences helped but no real experience of managing a large team of people. 

So what qualities are needed to lead a team effectively and how do we build on them so that staff feel motivated?

In my latest book “Coaching Skills for leaders in the Workplace” How to Books 2009, I list these qualities as crucial:

1. Courage – they feel the fear but do it anyway
2. Passion – a love of what they do and the ability to put it over
3. Humility – they know that they are only as good as their own people
4. Perseverance – where there’s a will there’s a way
5. Compassion – they treat others with respect and kindness
6. Forgiveness – they allow people to learn by their mistakes
7. Patience – showing it both for themselves and others
8. Strong values – authentic, trustworthy, reliable, consultative etc
9. Accountability – take responsibility even when things go wrong
10. Great listening skills – they listen and give constructive feedback

A leader is someone who is prepared to consult with others and not dismiss ideas out of hand.  Someone who has a coaching style whilst keeping an eye on the bottom line and being committed to getting results.  The balance is not always easy and as I looked through all my boxes and read the old minutes of various meetings, I realised that it would have been useful to have demonstrated coaching skills whilst running my school. 

So, how can we be the best leaders of our businesses possible? 

Writing down the qualities above is certainly a good reminder.  It allows me to be aware of the lapses and my own deveopment areas.  It is so vital to support and motivate staff and colleagues in times of change and uncertainty. 

Today I will listen more closely to those who come with opinions different to mine.  I will allow them to be heard and take on board what they have to say.   Perhaps just focusing on one quality each week will strengthen it and allow it to grow – I’ll give it a go!

“Between stimulus and response there is a space

In that space is the power to choose our response

In our response lies our growth and out freedom”    Viktor Frankl