Fuel Net

Get answers to your most pressing marketing questions in fuelNet Monthly, your one-stop resource for effective communications strategies that result in secure, long-lasting customer relationships.. Learn more...

Every business has a leader, but the truly great ones have a desire to learn and grow. To become a more effective leader, says Robert H. Thompson, author of The Offsite: A Leadership Challenge Fable, you must foster open, honest, and authentic relationships that urge others to want to discover their power and focus on what matters to them and their community. People who commit to the following five practices are dramatically more effective than those who cling to outdated, mythical leadership styles:

1. Model the way. It’s not what you say that really matters, but what you do. It’s up to you to behave the way you want others to behave.

2. Inspire a shared vision. Envision the future and create a roadmap for getting there. Your vision story must inspire others to join the effort.

3. Challenge the process. Search for opportunities by seizing the initiative and looking outward for innovative ways to improve. Leaders are pioneers who challenge the status quo.

4. Enable others to act. Make it possible for others to do good work by fostering collaboration, building trust, and facilitating relationships. Strengthen the talent around you by increasing self-determination and developing competence.

5. Encourage the heart. Recognize everyone’s contributions, showing appreciation for individual excellence. Celebrating accomplishments will create a spirit of community.