Anyone can sit in their office and delegate tasks, but leadership is far from just that. Good leaders are much more than people giving tasks. Good leaders are those who have a great impact on each team member, as well as the company as a whole. Those employees who work under good leaders are different from the rest. They are happier, more productive, and more cohesive with their team.

Leadership is a responsibility that not everyone is ready to take on. But good preparation, the desire to develop and improve oneself and, above all, respect and open communication between the leader and his team members are the foundations of good leadership.

Today we’ve chosen to present a few tips, according to Business News Daily, that will help you become a better leader and your team happier, motivated and enthusiastic. The combination of all these things make work easy and enjoyable, and success certain.

5 Tips for Better Leadership

Always strive for honest and open communication
One of the most important elements of effective leadership is creating an open line of communication with team members. Sanjay Patolia, founder and director of Teclogiq, says a leader’s honesty and transparency should serve as an example to his team members.
Brownlee also adds that great leaders are able to adapt their interactions and communication styles to each situation and team member based on individual preferences. Leaders take the time to understand which mode of communication is preferred by each team member – e.g., whether they use texting, email, phone, or face-to-face communication. She adds that good leaders are also listeners and are authentically interested in other people.

Build a strong relationship with the team

Leading a team requires mutual trust and understanding between the leader and team members. But to achieve this, leaders must learn to connect with the people on their team.

Terry “Starbuck” St. Marie, a writer and leadership consultant, says that being more connected to people and more human requires positivity, purpose, empathy, compassion, humility and love. These key traits will get you on the path to genuine connections with your team members. It may sound easy, but it is far from it. To build a relationship with each of your team members, focus on getting to know their personality, interests, strengths, weaknesses, hobbies and preferences. This can give you insight into their goals and motivations.

Motivate your employees for personal and professional growth
According to Kerry Olrich, CEO of human resources consultancy Abbracci Group, leaders need to set aside a budget, however small, to nurture the development of their employees. And are you doing it?

In addition to investing in the financial growth of your employees, you should also invest in their emotional well-being, but very often this important point is underestimated. John Rampton, founder and CEO of Calendar, says great leaders empower their employees to develop by providing them with challenging opportunities and guiding them when needed.

When leaders believe in their employees and give them the opportunity to learn and develop, you may be surprised how much they can achieve. Give your employees a little more freedom and you’ll see how creative they can be.

Always have a positive attitude regardless of the situation
As much as they would like their team’s daily operations to run smoothly all the time, they certainly run into the occasional obstacle. Whether it’s a minor misunderstanding or a serious mistake, the way you handle a negative situation speaks volumes about your leadership skills.

Robert Mann, author of The Measure of a Leader, recommends focusing on the good in every circumstance. His advice is to look at three positives in a problem before determining what makes it frustrating. The more we look at the positive things in a problem, the more positively people respond to each other.

Don’t give orders to your employees, train them
No one is born learned, including you. A good leader knows how to show others what is required rather than just telling them. Luke Yorio, president and CEO of the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), says leaders need to guide their team members toward a more collaborative and engaged work environment – without persuading them.

Instead of issuing orders to team members, encourage growth by teaching them and showing them things in a calm way. For a person to grow professionally and personally, they need to learn something new every day. Development and improvement are difficult processes that a good leader can facilitate. Good leaders lend a hand.