Think about your past bosses and the type of leader they were. You probably either remember them because they were really great leaders, or…they were really, really bad. In fact, the number one reason people leave a job is due to a bad boss, not the actual job.

When thinking about your own leadership style, are you going to be the boss that everyone remembers for the right reasons?  Leadership styles are contagious; you either spread good leadership traits or bad ones.  Your employees will take their cues from you. Take time to examine the kind of leadership traits you are promoting. Work towards the type of leader you want to be. It’s important to your company culture.

 

Become a Better Leader with This Simple Self-Assessment

Are you a good leader or a great one? Perform this simple self-assessment to see.

In the past month have you:

Gossiped about an employee with another employee?

Gossiping with your colleagues is never a good idea. Sometimes we justify it in our minds as “venting,” but when you gossip with one of your supervisees about someone else, they will think it is okay to gossip about co-workers as well.  If you have a problem with one of your workers, it is better to talk to them up front and explain why their behavior may not be okay.  Never be the boss who gossips or spreads rumors.

 

Praised someone for their accomplishments?

Recognizing your employees for their hard work is a great leadership trait! Your business is a team, and you have to promote a team approach. You want your employees to feel valued for what they do, and a great way to do that is simply recognizing them for the good work they are doing. Some businesses do a “Star Employee of the Week” or send an email about monthly accomplishments.

You could also start a program where employees give kudos to their fellow employees. This is definitely a trait you want to pass along to your employees and hope that they will incorporate it in their future roles.

 

Gotten mad and yelled at someone?

When you reprimand an employee, or when you get mad at a customer in a public setting, you are creating a hostile environment.  That is not a leadership trait that you want your employees to emulate.  If something is upsetting, or if an employee messes up, make sure you address it in a private, calm setting. This may even mean taking a few minutes to yourself before addressing the problem so that you can assess the situation before reacting.

 

Listened to the concerns of your employees?

You want the people who work for you to feel included in decisions, and to feel that your business truly embraces a team atmosphere. As the leader of your business, by listening to concerns and helping address any issues, you are empowering your employees and creating an open environment.

A good leader will listen to concerns, and not brush them off. If you are constantly failing to address concerns, or you are too busy to be bothered, your employees will see that.

A leader is also a good listener, and listening is a trait you will definitely want to pass along.

 

Inspired your employees to take on leadership roles?

The best leaders want to see others lead and succeed.  Encourage your employees to take on leadership roles, either in the business or in your community. Someone might be interested in organizing your group to volunteer at an event or take a leadership role on a committee in your community.  Encourage your employees to take a vested interest in leadership because you don’t have to be the business owner to be a leader.

 

Being a leader in your business is a big responsibility, and as a business owner, you have the opportunity to set the tone and spread leadership skills that will inspire your employees to be great leaders themselves one day.  Make sure your leadership style is contagious for all the right reasons by practicing good leadership skills every day.