Leadership 101: The importance of being a strong follower

Leadership is chiefly affected by followership, and it’s a fact that great leaders are great followers first. However, some workplaces forego training that develops an employee’s skills which are appropriate for being a great follower, and head on to improving their leadership competencies.

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An effective follower creates a sense of awareness not just for oneself, but for their colleagues, coworkers, clients, shareholders, and the public. It’s integral to maintain the consciousness that being a leader means knowing how to bring everyone together. By being a good follower first, one learns how to read the room. Empathy is an invaluable quality. Patrick Dwyer of Merrill Lynch believes that it’s important for a leader to maintain the knowledge and comprehension of what inspires and encourages others in the workplace.

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Good followers choose their battles. It’s impossible not to encounter a workmate whose views one is opposed to. A good follower knows not to engage in every political tirade that others initiate. Differences exist and must be recognized; good followers how to get along with colleagues with opposing views. Diplomacy is a key quality in leadership.

Being a good follower means being courageous even when presenting a dissenting opinion. According to Patrick Dwyer of Merrill Lynch, when a leader is headed to the wrong path with their statements and actions, an effective follower is brave enough to disagree with the motions, and offer different solutions. Speaking up takes guts and a strong conviction. Good leaders who have a strong sense of followership are guided by their moral compass.

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Can training and development affect company culture?

Training and development is important to keep the company dynamic and ever ready for the changes in the business world. A good work culture helps in fostering an atmosphere of constant learning and leadership among team members.

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By encouraging employees to undergo training programs for skills enhancement and leadership development, a company is cultivating a workplace culture that encourages loyalty among employees. Valuing human resource builds a sense of trust and confidence. An employee who feels needed and appreciated is more likely to show up to work with enthusiasm. Patrick Dwyer of Merrill Lynch believes that providing employees with great opportunities to learn helps in employee retention.

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A great company has high rates of employee retention and it speaks well of a company’s culture. More than the incentives and compensations, continuous training and skill development encourage employees to show up to work inspired to take on another day at the office. With this kind of culture, a company is set to succeed for a long time, making way for business sustainability. Quality leadership is achieved through conscious learning and improvement of respective skills.

A lifelong learner, Patrick Dwyer of Merrill Lynch says it’s paramount for a company to offer means for its employees to grow in their preferred learning areas. While it’s appropriate to train them in areas of their strengths, it won’t hurt to encourage them to learn new disciplines.

Patrick Dwyer of Merrill Lynch believes that education is a key to building strong skills that are crucial to many aspects of life. For similar reads, head over to this blog.

Six ways to stay positive at work even on bad days

Maintaining a positive attitude has numerous benefits. An employee who displays good attitude, and couples this with optimism in the workplace, is more likely to be productive than those who mope and drag themselves throughout the work day. A positive attitude is reflected in the following habits:

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Start the day right; dress up and show up. The early hours of one’s day set the tone for the rest of the day. Upon rising, fixing one’s appearance to be pleasant in the workplace can make all the difference.

Be aware of the negativity in the surroundings. Knowing exactly what triggers negativity in the room helps one fight against it. Once the source is identified, an employee can make good choices in handling it.

Keep situations under control. An employee should make it their goal to nurture internal strength such that no event outside their control can affect their inner wellness without their permission. The difference between a good day and a bad day is a person’s attitude.

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Stay enthusiastic. Attitude is everything. Lack of enthusiasm breeds unhappiness and dissatisfaction. In the workplace, create something to look forward to with enthusiasm. This is the building block of happiness.

Praise and appreciate. An attitude of gratitude goes a long way, especially in a workplace bogged down by negativity. An employee should strive to be the person people will gravitate to, knowing they can be uplifted by your presence.

Say goodbye to toxic people. People who purposely make someone’s day at work miserable must be let go, if their attitude affects the workplace too much. A positive, accepting, correcting culture must be formed among team leaders and members.

Patrick Dwyer of Merrill Lynch believes that any barrier to the growth of any business venture can be eliminated with education. For more updates on knowledge building for business, visit this blog.