Today, we want to talk about what we consider the most fundamental lessons you can learn to adjust your leadership style for best results.

1. The Best 10 Leadership Lessons You
Can Learn Today
By David Kiger Image courtesy ofJens Johnsson at Flickr.com

2. Leadership is not something you can learn in a university or
an online course. There are seminars and training sessions,
but they do not compare to the lessons you can receive by
being out there, leading from the front and making
mistakes that will later become learning experiences.
Understanding what leadership means to you and the use
of your abilities and strengths to shape yourself into a
leader is instrumental to your success. Leadership is
something we often talk about here in David Kiger’s
Slideshare and with our articles we try to break down for
you some of the concepts we find to be useful and that can
be molded into different styles of leadership. For this
particular piece, we want to talk about what we consider
the most fundamental lessons you can learn to adjust your
leadership style for best results.

3. Always be courageous, no matter what.
Your actions and emotions have a large audience, as those
around are always looking up to you for guidance and
example. Being courageous in the face of adversity is
something every leader must have, because setbacks are
a reality that must be dealt with and from which nobody is
exempt. A great leader always faces challenges directly.
Be honest and upfront with your employees.
As obvious a simple as it may sounds, leaders must be able
to speak to employees directly and address their
shortcomings head-on. It happens more often than not,
that managers do not have that level of trust and personal
touch with their employees and they forego a direct
approach to the issues they see with a particular employee.
By doing this you are failing the company, your employees
and ultimately yourself as a leader.

4. Be humble
A great leader understands his or her limitations and admit
their shortcomings. Being aware of your need to improve
yourself is a great way to find motivation to constantly
evolve and learn new skills. Leaders who are overconfident
and overestimate their value and skills, are proven to be
least effective in leading a team. Being humble goes a long
way and gives a great example to those who follow.
Understand how to hold on to your team
Nobody stays at a job because of the money. Being
surrounded by a great team and doing work that you find
meaningful and personally fulfilling, are the two things that
retain employees. Giving a clear purpose to your
employees and surrounding them with the best possible
team working in the most ideal conditions, are the tools to
maintain a strong loyal workforce.

5. The secrets lies on having clear goals
If you do not have a clear sense of purpose and direction,
how can you be sure that you are achieving your goals and
being successful? You must ask yourself how you will
personally measure your success before you can even
start considering how to get there in the first place.
Trust is a two-way street
If you want others to follow you, then you must ask yourself
if you would be willing to follow them. You must hire the best
people for the right positions, and if you do that correctly,
then you can rest assured that they are the most qualified
experts to do what they are doing, trust them.

6. Adversity forges a true leader
Adversity is not frightening to a true leader, is nothing more
than opportunity disguised and it should be treated as
such. Great leaders always make the most out of difficulties
and file them under lessons learned and insurance that the
same mistakes will not be made in the future. Being
prepared and not losing your bearing when facing
challenges are the standards of a great leader because
they do not take these things personally.
Do not stop learning
A great leader understands that nobody is a finished
product, so why should they be any different? Progressing
as a person and as a professional should always be a
priority. The moment you become stagnant, you will be
surely replaced to benefit the greater good and the
success of the company.

7. Your team is your most valuable asset
The best leaders always understand that their success is
directly related to the team behind them and the people
they have chosen to be part of that team. Trusting your
choices and your judgment is the trademark of a superb
leader because they have no doubt they have chosen the
very best and trust them enough to constantly prove it.
Great leaders are accountable.
A great leader understands his ultimate responsibility in the
great scheme of things; but they don't simply stop there.
Great leaders take the necessary steps in the right
direction to correct shortcomings and are always adjusting
the course of action to answer to new needs that may arise.