How to Promote Leadership Qualities in the Workplace

Create an atmosphere at work that fosters leadership qualities.

A company that is successful at getting its employees to improve standards, create new ideas and exceed the set goals and objectives understands how to cultivate leadership qualities in the workplace. In order to foster the ability to lead in the employees who work for your company, key staff and executives must be prepared to commit themselves to developing a leadership plan.

Instructions

1. Meet to discuss, define and identify what leadership qualities are within the organization. Leadership is not about making demands and barking out orders; good leadership qualities consist of helping others achieve company goals, team building, improving processes and coming up with ideas without being asked to do so.

2. Put in place a leadership recognition program by designating a committee to select and recognize employees who display leadership characteristics. The committee should develop a leadership reward system by conducting a company-wide survey to determine what recognitions and rewards employees would like to receive -- for example, designated parking spots, bonus compensation, a recognition ceremony, certificates and plaques, free lunch or lunch with the CEO. Determine a set procedure for selecting and rewarding employees who do an outstanding job of displaying leadership characteristics and qualities.

3. Provide leadership training for all employees, giving them information, strategies and techniques on developing leadership qualities.

4. Cultivate leadership within employees by treating them like leaders. Train managers and supervisors on new styles, methodologies and approaches for dealing with their employees in a mentoring fashion. Discourage micromanaging, authoritarian or dictatorship management styles. Train managers in diversity and how to develop team-building techniques within their departments and divisions.

5. Revise performance evaluations so employees evaluate themselves as well as get feedback from managers, rather than simply allowing the manager to evaluate the performance without the employee's input.

6. Develop a method to get feedback from all employees in creating the organization's annual plan, mission statements, goals and objectives.

7. Promote from within the organization, rewarding and advancing employees who display leadership qualities.

Tips & Warnings

• The criteria for selecting employees should be a written process that clearly defines or provides examples of excellent and outstanding leadership qualities.

• It is essential to use a professional outside consultant to assist in formulating the Leadership Program and to conduct the diversity and management training.

• The Leadership and recognition Committee should be careful not to discriminate on the basis of sex, race, or use any other form of discrimination when selecting which employees will receive rewards.

References

• The Washington Post: Teaching Leadership Skills