With so many ways to define it and so many factors on how to do it right, you would surely agree that leadership is such a wide concept to cover. In spite of this, there is one word that can sum up everything you need to know about effective leadership. And that single word is – balance. Good managers should be stern yet should also know how to express warmth to their subordinates. They can exemplify hard work yet at the same time teach the importance of taking a break.
Balanced leadership mostly means your team does not get confused about the policies you set nor laden with the tasks you assign. This is likely to result in an organization with an efficient workflow, happy staff, and a productive team. Achieving this healthy work environment can indeed make everything a breeze. But then striking the right balance in a group is not as easy as it sounds. It is more common for us to see leaders that are either too complacent or too strict. Others can be too friendly while others too aloof. Sadly, the lack of balance inside a group can easily result in chaos and conflicts. To avoid this, here are some tips to achieve balance in your leadership:
Start within.
The balance you aspire to see in your group should start with you. You should first seek to maintain a balance between your work and personal life. If you can manage to evenly divide your time and focus between career and relationships, then it will be much easier to have a balanced leadership style. Having the discipline to develop good work habits and routines is one effective way to assure a work-life balance.
Be self-aware.
Self-awareness which means having full knowledge of your strengths and weaknesses is a must to excel in everything. This trait can also be a great help to avoid going to extremes in your leadership. It is because if you are self-aware, you will not be oblivious when rules or instructions are already causing a strain within the group. You can enhance your ability to be conscious about your actions and their effects on others by spending time on self-reflection and striving to be a better listener.
Seek feedback.
Aside from knowing yourself, it is also important to have in-depth knowledge about the group you are managing. To achieve this, you need to have frequent communication with your members. Your initiative to listen to the concerns and suggestions of your staff can help you adjust your leadership in a way that will be most beneficial to everyone. Leaders who practice this should of course be mature enough to accept and deal with both positive and negative feedback.
There may be a thousand different ways to define good leadership; it can be about your grand visions, your efficient strategies, or admirable qualities. Yet at its core, great leadership is mostly about achieving the right balance in your every move and decision.
