Three habits of effective leaders

It doesn’t matter how old you are or what industry you work in, but over the years the chances are that you will have worked with and for many bosses/leaders/managers, some of whom were awful and had possibly been promoted above their ability, whilst others appear to have taken to leadership like a duck to water. There are natural leaders, but many, if not most, have to work at it and are given ‘management training’ or simply work out from previous experiences of past managers the good and bad of leadership.

Which begs the question; Are you a leader? It doesn’t matter if you’re a Director or a Graduate entry-level employee, leadership is an essential skill that can propel you and your career to bigger, better things. There are countless books and on-line forums dedicated to the subject, but here are a few of our thoughts.

What are three habits a competent leader practices regularly?
The first habit is asking different questions. This is about expanding your curiosity. The second habit is taking multiple perspectives. This habit is about listening well and understanding the perspectives of others. The third habit is looking at systems, and that one reminds us that while the human brain likes to break things down into manageable parts, it is the unwieldy combination of those unmanageable systems that opens us up to new possibilities.

Do even the best leaders make mistakes?
Yes of course. They'll get mad and make mistakes, and sometimes they won't even recognise that they've done that. But the best leaders, like entrepreneurs, never stop learning, never become so arrogant or complacent that they stop believing they have room to grow. John F. Kennedy wrote that "leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." The good leaders (almost) never forget this.

What else separates great leaders from everyone else?
They create environments where people can thrive. We all have the experience of people who make us feel small and less capable than our colleagues versus those who make us more capable in their presence than we are without them. Good leaders remember that their perspective isn't the only truth, and they welcome entire human beings into the workplace -- inconvenient emotions, vague hunches, thoughtless mistakes and all.

If I want to become more of a leader today, how should I start?
Believe that you can change and begin to look for the ways you might need to by asking for feedback from others. Forgive yourself for your limitations (rather than denying them or beating yourself up about them), and then seek to grow beyond the way you understand the world today.

Nothing above is groundbreaking or revolutionary but hopefully a few common sense thoughts.

As ever we’re keen to hear from you, let us know your thoughts at blog@chestertongray.com or tweet us at @chestertongray

How to fall in love with your job again.

It's easy to love a new job. It's called the 'honeymoon phase' because everyone's hopes are high, it's a new challenge and it's a stimulating time, but after three to five years, that same exhilaration can often lead to boredom and frustration.

The buzz-kill here is familiarity. Initially in a new job, you're trying to understand your role. Once you've done that, you revel in the fact that you've developed a routine and are "good" at what you do. But then you get bored. Despite our common pursuit of less stressful lives, humans are wired for change, and new challenges are the fuel that makes life worth living.

It’s at this time of year, after the initial excitement of a new year and when the second quarter inertia kicks in for many, and they realise that they’re getting stale. So here are a few thoughts on how to spice up your job love life again.

Re-think your tools. It's easy to get overwhelmed by daily tasks and never-ending "to do' lists. Technology can help tame the beast. The great artists like Michelangelo spent enormous time making sure they had the best brushes, paints and materials for their canvases. The bottom line is that whatever you do for a living, there's probably an effective tool that can help you do it better. Depending on your business, different applications and software can help you accomplish daily chores faster and even make them more fun.

Say "yes" more. Variety can help an old job seem new, but you have to raise your hand when opportunities arise. It can be easier to just do what you've been doing, but if that isn't satisfying you have to challenge yourself to take on new tasks. Not only will you learn things, but you'll work with different people. That in itself may make a big difference.

Brush up on your people skills. After a few years on the job, you have probably mastered the nuts and bolts of the position. Now's the time to work on meeting new people, leading a team speaking in public or pitching your ideas. Formal programs like can help, or you can simply take time to work on these softer skills every day. Your efforts won't be wasted. Learn to deal with people more effectively and you'll become a star at the office.

Write a "did" list. At the end of each day, don't just cross off things that are done on your to-do list. Instead, write a quick "did" list, an informal summary of everything and anything you accomplished, from sharing a smart idea in a meeting to finally cleaning off your desk. If you regularly celebrate your successes both small and large, you won't have to wait for praise or a promotion for a boost.

Look at the big picture. If you feel like a cog in a wheel, focus on seeing how important the wheel is within the company. In the day-to-day battle, it's often tough to see the bigger picture and learn the impact you're making in the world. But perspective matters and each person makes a difference. A great manager should be showing you this, but that doesn't mean you can't try to see it for yourself, too.


Try these tips today, and hopefully you'll start loving -- or at least enjoying -- your work a little more. And if your honeymoon period is well and truly over and this work marriage looks doomed, maybe it's time to break up and start looking for something new. In which case, you know who to call!

As ever we’re keen to hear from you, let us know your thoughts at blog@chestertongray.com or tweet us at @chestertongray