Five Tips for Leading with Confidence
BY MELANIE BARR
Leadership can be lonely and at times we can question ourselves as to whether we’re making the right decisions, surrounding ourselves with the right people, creating effective teams, and communicating effectively so that goals are met and company success is accomplished. As leaders we are usually thinking about company growth, innovative solutions, how to make sure our teams are working together, that we’re achieving success, and also enjoying the ride along the way. Here are five tips that we all know but can be good reminders for leaders to lead with confidence as we look at achieving what we set out to do in the weeks and months ahead.
1. Trust your Instincts
Have you ever been in a situation where you decided not to trust your instincts and it set you back? Not always, but usually our instincts know the way and we should trust them. Good leaders make calculated decisions but they also make decisions quickly. They don’t sit on a decision and situation so long that the opportunity passes them by. They evaluate the situation then trust their instincts and make the leap forward. One of the biggest areas where this comes into play for me is hiring teams and deciding the best path forward to reach our goals. I learned to listen to my instincts when hiring in my past roles when I worked in corporate and also today when I’m hiring for my teams at She Built It™. Yes - at times we have to take a chance on a team member to see if they will work out but when looking for the right fit I always go back to trusting my instincts. In addition to their knowledge, I look at their ability to follow through, ability to take on a project and run with it on their own, and think about how they will interact with others on the team. I also turn to my instincts to help me lead the way and make the decision. It usually doesn’t fail me. So the next time you have a “feeling” about a leadership situation. After taking the needed time to think about it - decide to trust yourself, your instincts, and move forward with confidence.
2. Listen
The best answers and solutions for company growth usually come from multiple people sharing innovative ideas, collectively finding solutions, and everyone working together. This involves everyone listening and many different ideas considered. It’s also so important to surround yourself with people who know more than you do in certain areas where they excel and have expertise. One of my favorite questions to ask my team members is how do we make this better? It could be a workflow, project, or product. I’m always interested in hearing others' ideas. Not because I don’t have ideas of my own (I usually have too many) but when I ask these questions and then listen, the ideas and best path forward presents itself.
3. Set Clear Expectations and Goals
At times, as leaders, we are all guilty of this - we want, hope, or expect others to read our minds. It’s so important to set clear goals, monthly meetings, and ways to communicate effectively and check in with our teams. Yes our lives eb and flow. Some weeks and months we are better at making sure this happens than others but the good news is we can always start fresh. It is never too late to evaluate a workflow, a communication process, or the way projects and product creation is managed. When I’m feeling frustrated about the pace of something in business I go back to the basics and I go back to the beginning. What is the desired outcome. How can I work with my teams to reach the goal and then work backwards. What communication has to happen, and how does it need to happen, so we all experience success.
4. Commit & Follow Through
I learned early on that I would have more clients, respect as a leader, and that my clients would trust me and refer me to others if I commit and in addition to the commitment that I also followed through. I’m not perfect by any stretch but most of the time if I say I’m going to do something I do it, and execute what I’ve committed to, to the best of my ability. If as leaders we do things halfway, those around us will think it’s okay to do things half way too. I also learned that pride in accomplishments and taking time to really experience the things that we accomplish feels good and helps us move towards what’s next. It’s a positive experience and feels good to follow through for clients, offer them something that makes their life better, and when I know that I, along with my teams and my company, is giving them 100 percent effort, it makes business and leadership that much better.
5. Congratulate and Celebrate
Sometimes a simple “thank you”, “I love what you created”, or “I appreciate your incredible follow through” goes a long way. When one of my team members goes above and beyond, creates something that I look at and love, or suggests an innovative idea I am the first to say - thank you, our clients will love this. It’s also important to give small gestures, something complementary that the company can offer, taking your team out for coffee or lunch, or sending gift cards. Everyone likes to celebrate wins - it’s so much more fun to do it collectively and with each other.
We hope this blog post inspires you to trust your instincts and make your next leap forward - big or small. If joining a collective of inspiring, supportive, and innovative women in an interest for you, we’d love for you to join us. See you soon.
ABOUT MELANIE BARR
Melanie Barr is the Founder + CEO of She Built it™. She’s an Entrepreneur, Podcaster, Community Creator, Twin Mama, Wife, & Optimist.
The She Built It™ Collective comes together to empower you to "experience the life and business that you crave." We make meaningful member connections and share knowledge and resources that inspire you to make your next leap - big or small. Melanie launched She Built It™ in 2015 after selling millions in products and services for Fortune 500 companies and entrepreneurs - Marriott Hotels, AT&T, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Millennium Corporate Solutions to name a few. She led Boards and assisted organizations with female-focused missions such as Step Up and Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) an organization at the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Melanie is grateful for her twins, family, friends, tea, wine, bingeing on a good show after a long day to wind down her creative mind, and the She Built It™ Collective and Family. She earned a BA in Marketing from Loyola Marymount. Melanie and her husband - Jonathan Levey and their seven - year-old twins, Parker and Elliott, live in Los Angeles, California.