5 essential leadership tips

As a mediator and entrepreneur, Alexander Djerassi has plenty of experience filling leadership positions. For 3 years, Djerassi held the position of Chief of staff in the bureau of near eastern affairs. He has worked on issues concerning peace in areas like the Arab, Israel, and Palestinian. Djerassi also worked for Hilary for America as a campaign policy associate, and he worked as a coordinator to help save holocaust testimonies. Of course, with such an impressive resume, Djerassi has plenty to say about what it takes to be a great leader. Here are 5 tips he recommends for any leader.

Know thyself

There are several types of leaders. Each leadership style has negative and positive features. For example, a democratic leadership style may be the most balanced, but this leadership style can be time-consuming. The democratic leadership style may not work for a time-restrained project. An authoritarian leadership style leaves little room for input from team members but can work in a time-restrained situation. A laissez-faire leadership style works most efficiently with an experienced team. Disagreements that arise during this leadership style can cause major disruptions. You may take a leadership training from Raoul Wallenberg Organization to better understand the type of leader you are and learn effective management skills.

Create a team

Each team member brings a different style of working to the table. Leaders are capable of turning this chaos into a cohesive team. There are several ways a greater leader can effectively build a team. It has to be established from the beginning what type of work environment team members will be expected to operate in. By establishing authority from the beginning the goals and values of the team can be set.

Be an inspiration to the team

Having the ability to inspire a team is a mix of learned and natural leadership abilities. The number one way to inspire a team is by being an example. Leading with compassion and understanding will set an example for team members and build trust between team members and leaders. A great leader should be capable of pushing team members without overextending them. Team members should be growing and continuously developing their unique styles.

Stay flexible

Alexander Djerassi believes that as a leader, one should never be above admitting one’s failures. Failing to stay open-minded and flexible will hinder professional growth. A great leader should know when and how to switch leadership styles to suit the occasion. By continuing to remain flexible, leaders set an example for team members leading to an overall more flexible team.

Build trust

Trust should be baked into the foundation of a team. It is the responsibility of the team leader to build an environment that leads to trust amongst all team members. Team leaders can accomplish this by setting up meetings frequently. Team members should be regularly updated and should feel comfortable expressing concerns or other feelings during these meetings. Fostering trust between team members and team leaders leads to a well-rounded experience for both parties. Team members can become more confident in their abilities, and team leaders can prevent themselves from becoming overburdened. Having to approve every project decision can eventually tire out the team leader.