Everybody can be a manager.
Few can be a leader.
Even fewer can be effective leaders.
And this is not just me rambling my opinion.
Amber data suggests that the second highest reason employees waved goodbye in 2022 was their manager.
So, we chatted with two seasoned HR leaders - Rishi Tiwari (VP-HR at Max Life Insurance) and Shubhra Sharma (Head HR & Global Service Delivery, Bangalore at HSBC).
They spilled the beans on top-notch insights to amp up your leadership game. These nuggets are pure gold, sifted from their 40 years of combined experience.
Sometimes it’s about going back to the basics.
Effective leadership starts with trust.
And trust starts with being authentic.
Think about it like choosing a pilot for a skydive. You want someone who’s got experience, a calm demeanor, and definitely won't toss you out of the plane without a parachute! That's the kind of trust we're talking about with great leaders.
Here's the key: trust starts with being genuine.
As Rishi points out;
“You cannot script care in your value system. It has to come naturally and you have to be genuine. An effective leader has to be serving in nature. You can't rely on a few motivational activities anymore and expect that employees will buy it.”
Your team needs to trust that you'll walk the talk.
Just like Shubhra says, it's not about flashy speeches that fade away. It's about being real, open, and honest. And most importantly, being consistent with your words and actions. If you say it, you better be ready to do it. That's how you build trust that really sticks.
Leaders are often painted as bullet-proof figures.
But guess what? You’re human…and a part of being effective is showing that you are vulnerable.
Shubra nails it when she says;
“Leaders need to understand that real connection comes from sharing the ups, and the downs – and turning both into learning opportunities for the team. That's where you start building your effectiveness as a leader.”
Open communication also really matters when you've got tough news to share with your team.
With employee stress at an all-time high (44% reported high-stress levels), being an effective leader requires understanding what EMPATHY means and integrating it into your daily work life.
Thanks to COVID-19, workplace dynamics have shifted big time.
A fresh wave of workers has stormed in.
And the lines between work and life are increasingly blurring.
As a leader, you can't just sit back. It's all about grasping your team's motivations.
In fact, even Gartner’s recent study suggests that human leadership is the next evolution of leadership.
As Shubhra accurately puts it;
Leading effectively means tackling conflicts head-on. Our chat with Shubra highlighted two key moves for conflict-savvy leadership:
Keep your ego in checkNo one's immune to defensiveness, but charging in guns blazing doesn't help. Shubra's tip? Hit pause. Step back. Assess. Then act. A controlled approach cooks up better solutions and can become a teaching moment for the team.
Embrace conflict, don't dodge itEffective leaders don't shy from conflicts; they tackle them head-on. Dodging might seem nice, but it brews problems. Silos, politics, and trust issues can sneak in. Don't go there! Instead, take the bull by the horns!
Next up in the journey to being a stellar leader: nailing adaptability.
The best leaders? They're cool with diverse ideas and ready to pivot. They create a safe playground for the team to learn and try new things. Most importantly: by rolling with change, they set the gold standard for a learning mindset.
Rishi spilled the beans on an effective framework for adaptability – the Hersey-Blanchard Situation Leadership Model. It's about leaders shaping their leadership style based on their team's needs and skills. This framework is pure gold for every leader serious about acing the adaptability agenda.
Here's a big pitfall many leaders stumble into: they hire top talent and then micromanage them. Total buzzkill for their potential.
Instead, flip the script: empower your crew. Pass them the decision-making torch and be their guide. Think of it as a comfy space to try, risk, and even trip – with a safety net. Now that's real empowerment in play!
Rishi is a huge believer in giving teams the power to make decisions.
And lastly, no leader has ever become effective by lacking the technical skills needed for the job.
In a speech by India's last Field Marshal, Sam Manekshaw, he emphasized technical superiority alongside softer leadership qualities. Effective leaders require both. Like Rishi rightly says - while communication, care, and authenticity matter, technical competence also commands respect and authority. Leadership spans all levels, necessitating technical prowess and the ability to inspire.