Not every person in your leadership positions is effective, but in many cases they can be developed into excellent leaders.

In your experience, what makes a great leader?

We've noted that effective leaders generally exhibit the following attributes:

•    The capability and interest to lead;
•    An understanding of the people they lead;
•    An understanding of themselves and how they impact their people;
•    An understanding of their purpose as both a leader and a manager of people; and
•    An understanding of the impact that their alignment has upon their organizations

Making Your Managers More Effective

An "effective" manager takes responsibility for ensuring that each individual within his department succeeds and that the team or business unit achieves results. Successful managers require both talent and skill. Managerial skills can be developed through training, mentoring, and experience. But if a manager is void of natural talent, then the odds that he will be successful diminish significantly.

Develop Your Managers

The most productive companies are typically more proactive than their peers when it comes to identifying and developing effective managers. The six most common managerial success traits include communication, leadership, adaptability, relationships, development of others, and personal development.

Teach Communication Skills

A manager with good communication skills is able to instruct as well as he listens. Managers who can communicate effectively can process information, and then relate it back to their teams clearly. Effective managers should be able to understand, decipher, and relate the organization's vision back to their employees in order to maintain productivity.

Expand their Leadership Skills

Leadership is a crucial attribute that many managers lack despite their job title. It is common practice for companies to promote employees with the best results, but sometimes the best salesman doesn't make the best manager. True leaders are able to instill trust, provide direction, and delegate responsibility amongst team members.

Encourage Adaptability

Adaptability also contributes to a manager's effectiveness. When a manager is able to adjust quickly to unexpected circumstances, he is able to lead his team to adjust as well. Adaptability also means that a manager can think creatively and find new solutions to old problems.

Foster the Development of their Interpersonal Skills

Effective managers should strive to build personal relationships with their teams. Employees are more likely to exceed expectations when they trust their manager. When managers establish a relationship with employees, it builds trust and employees feel valued. Valued employees are more willing to get the job done right.

The best managers know when their employees need more development, and how to ensure those developments are successful. Developing others involves cultivating each individual's talents, and motivating those individuals to channel those talents toward productivity.

Promote their Personal Growth and Professional Development

Finally, an effective manager is aware of their own personal development. In order to successfully develop and lead others, managers must seek improvement in themselves. A manager who is willing to learn more and use their natural talents to the best of their ability will be able to encourage the same behavior in employees.

Effective management is comprised of several key components, not easily achieved.

Organizations need to recognize the traits associated with successful management, and then promote employees based on those traits. The highest achieving employees do not always make the best managers, but employees that naturally exude the attributes desired by managers are sure to be effective and successful in management roles..

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