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In Part 1 of this autocratic leadership article we differentiated between this harmful dictator style and being an 'imperfect' Leader. My old boss Tony, from many years ago, could be a jerk sometimes.
Even so, he knew how to engage us, by demonstrating care and concern when it counted. My teammates and I always felt loyal to him, and as a result we were driven to give our best on the job.
Now, years later, I know his 'secret' - he had mastered an important trust-building leadership skill: Cultivate a Positive Sense of Self in Others - which is the ability to cultivate, sustain or build a positive sense of self (self-confidence) in other people.
"You do not lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership."
Dwight D. Eisenhower
How Do You Know If You're Good At This Skill?
You may be thinking, "Okay, that Skill makes sense. Helping to increase self belief could improve performance and loyalty. I can see that. But how do I actually do that? And how do I know if I already good at this or if I suck at it?" Great questions!
Start by rating yourself on the Free Leadership Skills Quiz. There are eleven statements in the Quiz that represent observable and actionable behaviors that are the exact opposite of what someone who practices the autocratic leadership style would do, and they're what Tony had mastered.
Consider having every leader in your organization (including yourself) get 360 Feedback. A 360 is a powerful development tool that involves getting anonymous feedback by direct reports, boss and peers. Find out for sure how close or far away you are from mastering the 'Cultivate a Positive Sense of Self in Others' leadership skill.
Here are three actions you can add to your 'Leadership Tool Chest'
to ensure that the "Dictator" autocratic leadership style does not
sneak in...
Remember These Three Action Steps: Would you like to remember the three action steps AND this great leader skill? Get the Memory Jogger Card, here.
Yes, you CAN be a 'sometimes jerk' and still be an effective leader. The 'secret' to avoiding the dictator autocratic leadership moniker is to focus on Cultivating a Positive Sense of Self in Others. Your future business career success, depends on it.
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