How to be a good leader

Most of us have experience with terrible bosses and a clear picture of what not to be when leading people. Some of us have had experience with fantastic managers that we still feel connected to years after no longer working together. What we remember is how they made us feel.

Faced with the question of who we want to be as leaders, immediately the answer is ready. We want to be “good”. We want to take care of our teams, deliver great results and be inspired and inspiring.

The path from where we are now to where we want to be is not as clear.

In the day-to-day, we face tough situations, we deal with problems we have no idea could have existed, and that image of the good leader we aspire to be can seem like a dream, that doesn’t apply to the here and now.

So here are a few reflection points to guide you in your leadership journey.

The difference between a manager and a leader

There is a difference between a manager and a leader.

A manager is a job title: that puts you in charge of a team and/or a project. You have goals to deliver, outcomes to produce, and processes to create or comply with. It can be very junior or very senior.