Effective Leadership – Are You Prepared?

Leader – The person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country.

There is a question in which there are various answers to. How can one become an effective leader?

I have learned that the answer is not in the how but in the when and the why.

Leadership like anything else is always growing and getter better with time. Leadership is always about making the right decision for the team or the business; it’s never about yourself. That’s right, it’s about self-sacrifice, and that’s a hard thing to learn or deal with unless you have had serious training.

Most of us have become leaders not by choice, but by appointment. Often others elect us to be coaches and mentors because they recognize the leadership traits and qualities that we display.

Effective leadership does not mean being the “Boss,” it does not mean that everybody has to listen to you all the time. Instead, it means listening to all the possibilities and facts that your team presents you with and making informed and intelligent decisions.

All effective leadership begins and ends with relationships.

Communication is a skill set that must be held in this role. I have learned how to speak to my team with more than just words, but with my actions. There will be conversations with members of your team that will undoubtedly tire your soul, but you must stay strong and walk them to the finish line with positive feedback and forward thinking suggestions.

Here are a few of my personal tips on how to be an effective leader:

Passion

Being a leader is not a job; it’s an activity that you want to do. The reward will not come from earned pay but by seeing your hard work transform the workplace or organization into what you believe it can be. You have to wake up every day and be reinvigorated with an energy that comes from the satisfaction of accomplishment. My passion is to see my team get better and grow to become better chefs and educators.

Values

Respect is high on this list for me. I am not suggesting that you be a pushover, but be the warm and kind person that you needed in other positions. Values keep you grounded, and provide a foundation – sort of like the rules of engagement. It helps navigate the playing field. If your first thought is out of respect, then your next decision will always be straightforward.

Vision

In my humble opinion, this is what keeps the fire burning. You must see the dream you are trying to create in your mind’s eye. Most people don’t have this trait. It is similar to passion but drives all of your actions.

Communication

Like previously stated, this is a must-have for effective leadership to begin. The team needs to know why they will follow you, what the game plan is, and what you plan to build. Without the ability to speak or write out your goals clearly there will be a major breakdown.

Humility

Humility is the ability to control all the abilities you have and remain cool calm and collected. Without it, your ego would spin out of control, and no one would care to listen what you have to say.

Confidence

In addition to the above-mentioned traits and abilities, great leaders need confidence, because it will enable you to navigate your skill set with precision and accuracy. Without confidence, there can be no success on the tough road ahead.

So there you have it; I hope that my top leadership skills bring you continued success.

About the Author 

Chef Sedrick Crawley is a renowned culinary coach, chef, and mentor with decades of management experience. By combining his passion for success in culinary education, marketing savvy, and interpersonal skills, he has guided many culinary professionals, restaurants, and businesses into the future.