Do You or Your Managers Demonstrate These Essential Tenets of Leadership?
Effective team leadership and its direct impact on business outcomes is multifaceted. It’s a topic that’s been widely studied, discussed and dissected — and its relevance within ecommerce is no exception. In this article, we’ve rounded up some of the most indispensable tenets of effective team management.
Adaptability
Ecommerce is a dynamic industry that requires managers to perpetually embrace and be ready for change. Managers who are adaptable are better able to handle uncertainty, and internal as well as external change. They are open-minded and willing to learn from their experiences, which, in turn, enables them to make better decisions and navigate challenges.
Empowerment
Effective managers are adept in delegating certain decision-making responsibilities to team members based on their strengths and abilities. This helps build trust, confidence and autonomy among team members, and allows managers to focus on more strategic tasks. Not only can 'pushing' decision-making responsibility downward lead to increased productivity and morale, research suggests it also helps managers become more strategic leaders over time.
Safety
A safe work environment is one where employees aren't afraid of repercussions when mistakes are made. Research suggests that the absence of fear of repercussions is correlated with strong interpersonal relationships with managers, as well as positive perceptions of manager leadership style.
Vision
A clear and compelling vision helps managers inspire and motivate their team members towards a common goal. Research indicates that team leaders who communicate a clear vision are better able to unify the team and generate internal motivation among team members. Similarly, employees are more likely be productively engaged when their values and sense of ethic are perceived to align with the business' broader persona and purpose.
Communication
Clear and effective communication is a critical component of all leadership, particularly where cross-functional teams need to work together to achieve business goals. Good managers communicate well; clearly articulating the business’ objectives and expectations to team members. Those who do so build strong relationships with their team, improve decision-making across levels, and foster a positive work environment. Likewise, good communication also means developing multiple pathways for those at all levels to raise and test ideas by opening various avenues for communication across functions.
Continuous Learning
Effective managers recognise that leadership development is an ongoing practice and are committed to continuous learning. This includes seeking feedback, experience-based learning, and staying up-to-date with industry best practices. Particularly, this also includes carving out time to reflect on both situational aspects of leading, as well as reflecting on one's own thinking about how that situation was approached - something researchers have termed 'double loop learning'.
Accountability
Demonstrating accountability for actions and decisions is crucial in creating a culture of responsibility, ownership, and transparency, thereby leading to improved performance and outcomes. Businesses that cultivate a culture where those with decision-making power have transparent accountability are more likely to retain engaged employees.
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence enables managers to recognise and regulate their own emotions, and manage the emotions of their team members. Managers who exhibit empathy connect with their team members beyond the superficial. This leads to many positive outcomes, such as improved communication, relationships, team dynamics, better decision-making, and increased job satisfaction among team members.
Leadership is a skill that requires constant development and refinement. Effective managers understand there is always room for improvement and are committed to continuous learning. They are are able to keep team members engaged through attending to mental, attitudinal, and emotional needs, and seek transparent feedback; empowering team members to contribute their unique perspectives and ideas.