People are so demanding these days.
Agree?
Leaders are pressured to increase sales, put together high-performance teams, recruit the best talent, and follow the orders of their superiors. Employees, on the other hand, are constantly told to do more with less.
This causes employee problems and work dissatisfaction. On top of that, most companies don’t have a clear career path for their employees, and this only adds up to their frustrations. It’s a test of patience, both for the leader and the employee.
Patience is a virtue, but because of the overwhelming demand to do better in the workplace, this virtue is starting to become a rare attribute. Patience isn’t just an ordinary virtue anymore, it’s a talent developed by people with good leadership skills.
People with good leadership skills but little patience can’t become effective leaders.
Have you ever worked with someone who had little patience in dealing with mistakes? Some leaders are so driven by results; they don’t care much what their employees think. They don’t show empathy and have no patience for people who can’t do what needs to be done. Because of their personality, employees don’t trust them well enough to reach out in difficult situations.
Why?
They don’t want to be shouted at. They don’t want to be belittled or berated.
Why tell your boss that you’re having a problem with a task at work if he’s not going to listen and help you find ways to solve it?
If your leadership style is like this, you might want to step back a little. True leadership skills aren’t limited to how you bark orders at people. Listening, empathizing and being patient with the people you work with are also part of the package.
To help you become more patient as a leader, here are three ways to get started:
- See the world through the eyes of your employees. Do this before you make a decision and before you tell someone off.
- Ask questions- If someone comes to you with a problem, don’t assume what they have or have not done. Ask questions to understand the situation instead. Asking questions also show your staff that you are interested in helping them.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help- You are not required to know everything, even if you are the boss. Don’t just tell people what to do just to eliminate a problem, even if your patience is being tested. If one of your team members knows more about the project at hand, ask him or her.
Next time an impossible task (or an impossible employee) tests your patience, use it as a way to practice your patience and leadership skills. Instead of acting like an angry rhino, apply the tips mentioned above.
© 2013 Incedo Group, LLC
