Leadership isn’t about the job, company or people around you. It’s about who you are and how you handle yourself before managing others.

There are individuals like Tom Jakobek and Frank McKenna who have successfully led people in business as well as politics.

Change is the essence of life, and when you change yourself, you change people around you. You must be a great boss right now, but to become a leader and effectively lead a team, you need to do things differently.

We give you 7 ways to lead a team effectively.

1. Be a leader

To lead, you must think and act like a leader. Many times, we get into a position without levelling ourselves up for that. Unless you stand out to treat yourself as a leader, people behind you won’t. Sometimes people will see you and acknowledge your contributions like what the Highland Creek Plaza community members do, praising Tom Jakobek as a landlord and leader. But more often than not, people above you and around you may not want to see you as a leader. So don’t hide in, come out and get recognized. Participate more to show what you can bring to the table.

2. Recognize your people

People who feel appreciated will be willing to do much more than expected. Moreover, if you don’t praise people in your team often, they will leave. Reward your team members even for their small achievements and help them be a better version of themselves. When you recognize them as achievers, they recognize you as a leader.

3. Communicate effectively

Everything about a good leader boils down to communication. If you fail to convince your team about your vision, goals and ideas; your team members will not follow you. Be assertive and share more with your team, answer their doubts and motivate them to fight against all odds. Listen to their problems and help them find solutions.

4. Delegate responsibilities

Leading means knowing what to do and when to do. A leader knows who does what and how to get it done. Delegate responsibilities to your team and trust them for completing the task. Empower them to take decisions and don’t micromanage them. Set them free to think and come up with path-breaking ideas.

5. Lead by example

Leaders should know how to delegate, but at the same time, leaders must set examples for their team members to mimic. If you want your team members to respect you and follow your steps, show them by doing and don’t just command. Until you face challenges, you will not motivate your team enough for the same.

6. Build relationships

Your network is your tribe. Therefore, build relationships with people under you and the people above you. Your seniors will guide you towards your goal, and your juniors will support you.

7. Set the learning curve

Your seniors chose you to lead a team because you are more capable than others. But, this doesn’t mean you are the best. Keep learning new technologies, business and management skills, strategies and everything that will keep you ahead of the competition. When you do things hands-on, you will be able to train your team members.