Here's how you can lead a team confidently and assertively.
Leading a team requires more than just managerial skills; it involves a blend of confidence, assertiveness, and the ability to inspire and motivate. Assertiveness allows you to express your thoughts and expectations clearly without being aggressive, while confidence helps you gain the trust of your team. To lead confidently and assertively, you must understand your team's dynamics, set clear goals, communicate effectively, and foster a positive environment where everyone feels valued and heard.
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🎯 Lori D.Talent Acquisition Strategist & Leader 💡 connecting the right person to the right job at the right time in…
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Dan HaagmanCEO - Chaleit | Cybersecurity Leader & Expert | Former co-founder of Cyber firms NotSoSecure & 7Safe (both acquired) |…
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Himanshu LohiaGrowth Leader | Storyteller | Always Learning
Understanding your strengths and weaknesses is the cornerstone of assertive leadership. By conducting a self-assessment, you can identify the areas where you excel and those that may require improvement. This self-awareness enables you to approach situations with confidence and make decisions that play to your strengths. When you're confident in your abilities, your team will sense this and respond with trust and respect, which is essential for maintaining authority and leading effectively.
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By balancing assertiveness with approachability, you can inspire trust and motivate your team to achieve their best. Leading a team confidently and assertively involves setting clear expectations and goals, ensuring everyone understands their roles and responsibilities. Effective communication is crucial; articulate your vision and provide regular feedback. Make decisive decisions and stand by them, demonstrating confidence in your choices. At the same time, remain open to feedback and input from team members, fostering a collaborative environment.
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To lead a team confidently and assertively, establish clear goals and expectations, communicate effectively, and provide constructive feedback. Foster a collaborative environment by encouraging open dialogue and valuing diverse perspectives. Demonstrate decisiveness and adaptability, making informed decisions while being open to new ideas. Lead by example, showing integrity, dedication, and accountability. Recognize and celebrate achievements to boost morale. Stay approachable, support your team’s growth, and address conflicts promptly to maintain a positive, productive atmosphere.
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Never a better phrase shared; know thyself. Goodness does this take some work and continuous investment. Pretty much daily I engage in assessing myself, my thinking, how I can help others, how I can learn more, apply better, think clearer and such. Its an active program that has taken years to develop and runs in parallel with building businesses, building skills, and enjoying life. I believe such self awareness that gets generated has such an application to helping others and the betterment of them too. Its become a love of mine to be super open, happy, focussed and to see others shine. In this modern world, perhaps the new cool is to be kind? Do we need authority per se or assimilation of thinking and pulling together of smart people?
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I believe that understanding your strengths and weaknesses is the cornerstone of assertive leadership: - Conducting a thorough self-assessment allows you to identify the areas where you excel and those that may require improvement. - This self-awareness enables you to approach situations with confidence and make decisions that play to your strengths.
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Lead a team confidently and assertively by: Setting Clear Expectations: Communicate goals, roles, and responsibilities clearly. Making Decisive Decisions: Show confidence in your choices and stand by them. Building Trust: Be transparent, honest, and consistent in your actions. Listening Actively: Respect and consider team members' input and concerns. Providing Constructive Feedback: Offer guidance that helps improve performance and fosters growth. Modeling Assertiveness: Demonstrate confidence without being aggressive, and encourage open dialogue.
Goal setting is critical in steering your team in the right direction. Clearly defined objectives provide a roadmap for success and help maintain focus. When you articulate these goals with confidence and clarity, you empower your team to work towards a common purpose. This not only fosters a sense of unity but also encourages individual members to take ownership of their roles in achieving these targets.
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A goal oriented organization (organisational goals and employee goals), is bound to succeed. As a leader you need to ensure that you set these goals right. A goal setting process I believe should be an open discussion with the employees to understand what they feel will take the organisation ahead. Fostering a culture of inclusivity and empowerment, helps maintain a stable and productive work environment.
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No goal is no direction. We set our direction in quite long cycles but I have found that many people don't find it easy to think longer term generally. Perhaps this is a cybersecurity thing or a wider more endemic issue in society where attention is suffering. To keep on track it is thus crucial not just to set goals but to revisit them. I also advocate that if we are achieving around 70% of our goals thats good. Why? Because when setting out there will be all sorts of influences and factors that impact our goal and our goals tend to evolve (nb. we don't let them drift). Constant iteration thus allows learning into this as the 30% we thought we did not achieve may contain 10-20% of new features or aspects of the original goals.
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I believe that setting clear, achievable goals is essential for guiding your team and driving success: - Well-defined goals give your team a sense of direction and purpose, which can be incredibly motivating. - Align your team's goals with the overall objectives of the organization to ensure that your efforts are driving meaningful impact.
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Setting goals are important, here are 5 criteria that distinguish a good set of goals. 1) Understandable - clear and unambiguous. 2) Robust - precise to support consistent decision-making in complex situation. 3) Complete - cover every situation perceived. 4) Consistent - expressed in a way that allows a balance of interpretations. 5) Stable - goals should be enduring, yet able to accommodate changes.
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Here's how you can lead a team confidently and assertively: Set clear goals. But beware, while setting clear goals is common advice, it can often be misguided if done in isolation. Clear goals without flexibility can stifle creativity and adaptability. Instead of rigidly focusing on fixed objectives, embrace a dynamic approach that allows for adjustments as circumstances change. True leadership involves setting a vision and empowering your team to navigate towards it with agility and innovation. "Clear goals are vital, but rigid ones can be a trap. Leadership is about setting a vision and adapting the path to reach it, allowing creativity and resilience to thrive." Solomon
Open communication is the lifeblood of assertive leadership. You must be able to convey your vision and expectations to your team effectively. This involves active listening, providing constructive feedback, and being open to suggestions from team members. By fostering an environment where communication flows both ways, you demonstrate respect for your team's input and encourage a culture of collaboration and mutual support.
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Transparency is everything. I don't like or support secrets. We adopted the fact that everything is open unless its not ours to share (legally, client requirements of least privilege, ethically etc). Its an interesting basis to start from. So with that in mind, we openly communicate failures and errors. I love that. I want to have a high error rate as it means generally we are learning well and pushing ourselves. Society and business does not push for this. Of course we need to be careful of critical errors & have a safety blanket too. But by openly sharing that I expect errors I think it gives permission for people to feel that they can grow and try new things in line with our vision. Expectations of quality must never suffer however.
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You don't need to be the loudest or most aggressive person in the room. Know your stuff and stand your ground without steamrolling others. Be decisive, but not inflexible. Make calls when needed, but be open to input. Nothing kills confidence faster than flip-flopping or being too stubborn to admit when you're wrong. Own your expertise, but don't fake it. It's okay to say "I don't know, but I'll find out." Your team will respect you more for honesty than bluffing. Set clear expectations and hold people accountable. Don't dance around issues - address problems head-on. Trust your gut, but back it up with data. Intuition + evidence is a powerful combo. Share your own challenges and learnings - it builds trust and shows real strength.
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I believe that open communication is the lifeblood of assertive leadership: - You must be able to clearly convey your vision and expectations to your team, ensuring everyone is aligned and working towards a common goal. - Engage in active listening, demonstrating that you value your team's input and are open to their suggestions and feedback.
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Communicate Effectively Be Clear and Concise: Communicate your expectations, goals, and feedback clearly. Avoid ambiguity. Active Listening: Listen to your team members’ ideas, concerns, and feedback. Show that you value their input. Non-Verbal Communication: Use confident body language, maintain eye contact, and use a firm but calm tone of voice.
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Communication with team members helps in acknowledge and review your role in the team. Be open and communicate with the followings 1) Active listening 2) Emotional intelligence 3) Influencing 4) Motivation 5) Transparency
Soliciting feedback from your team is a powerful way to show that you value their opinions and are willing to adapt. It demonstrates your commitment to continuous improvement and creates a culture of trust. Encourage your team to share their thoughts on processes, strategies, and leadership methods. This feedback loop not only helps you grow as a leader but also empowers your team members by giving them a voice.
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I believe that soliciting feedback from your team is a powerful way to demonstrate your commitment to continuous improvement and create a culture of trust: - Encouraging your team to share their thoughts on processes, strategies, and leadership methods shows that you value their opinions and are willing to adapt. - This feedback loop empowers your team members by giving them a voice and a sense of ownership in the organization's success.
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Your relationship with your team cannot be built electronically. Engage them physically instead of virtually. It will always motivate others to feel the importance of their contribution. A good leader always listen to the feedbacks and improve.
Your actions set the tone for the entire team. By leading by example, you establish the standards of behavior and performance that you expect from others. When you demonstrate assertiveness and confidence in your decisions and interactions, it sets a precedent for your team members to follow. This approach can inspire them to embody these qualities in their own work, leading to a more assertive and confident team overall.
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I believe that leading by example is a powerful way to establish the standards of behavior and performance you expect from your team: - When you demonstrate assertiveness and confidence in your decisions and interactions, it sets a precedent for your team members to follow. - This approach can inspire your team members to embody these qualities in their own work, leading to a more assertive and confident team overall.
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Foster a Positive Team Culture Lead by Example: Demonstrate the behavior and work ethic you expect from your team. Encourage Collaboration: Foster an environment where team members feel comfortable collaborating and sharing ideas. Recognize Achievements: Regularly acknowledge and celebrate the successes and contributions of your team members.
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Referring to Maxwell's 5 levels of leadership, the fourth level is People Development, where people follow you because of what you have done for them. You build others to become what you are now. This will inspire them to follow your lead and foster a stronger team.
Empowering your team members is essential for assertive leadership. Give them the autonomy to make decisions within their areas of responsibility. This not only boosts their confidence but also encourages them to take initiative and be accountable for their actions. Trusting your team to perform without micromanagement reinforces your confidence in their abilities and fosters a sense of shared responsibility for the team's success.
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Delegate Effectively Assign Responsibilities: Clearly define roles and responsibilities within the team. Trust Your Team: Trust your team members to carry out their tasks and avoid micromanaging. Provide Support: Offer guidance and support when needed, but allow team members to take ownership of their work.
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One additional practical insight to enhance assertive leadership is to practice resilience in the face of challenges. Assertive leaders maintain their composure and determination during setbacks or difficult situations. By staying composed, problem-solving effectively, and showing resilience, you inspire confidence in your team's ability to overcome obstacles. This attitude fosters a culture of perseverance and adaptability, reinforcing your leadership credibility and ensuring your team remains focused and motivated despite adversity.
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Confident and assertive leadership hinges on empowering your team. Start by delegating responsibilities that match each member's strengths, fostering a sense of ownership. Encourage open communication and actively listen to their ideas and concerns. Provide constructive feedback and recognize their achievements to build confidence. Empowering your team not only boosts their morale and productivity but also reinforces your leadership presence. When team members feel valued and capable, they are more likely to contribute effectively, creating a collaborative and dynamic work environment where confident leadership thrives.
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- Practice ethical and authentic Leadership - Make your expectations known explicitly (G&Os) - Understand Personal aspirations of the team members (its about them too!) - Set definition of success so that everyone is aligned - Establish regular connects to discuss strategies, actions, progress, challenges to ensure everyone is aligned - Empowering the team to make localized decision making is critical - Don't portray "Know-it-all" attitude! And then there are others - its not a silver bullet on what ever we say!
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Develop Your Leadership Skills Continuous Learning: Invest in your professional development through courses, workshops, and reading. Seek Mentorship: Learn from experienced leaders who can provide guidance and support. Reflect and Improve: Regularly reflect on your leadership experiences and identify areas for improvement.
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