Leadership Skill – Supporting your Leader

Most of us are in a mid position in our organizations. And even if we’re at the top of the corporate ladder we have to report to someone. Life isn’t fair and sometimes your boss is not quite like the one “you ought to have”. Well, John Maxwell in his book “The 360° Leader” proposes a way to deal with that kind of bosses.

Here’s how: ADDING VALUE.

1. Build a strong relationship with your leader.
Contrary to your natural thinking, instead of getting away try to find common ground and find professional affinity. Put the business vision first, and commit yourself to achieve that vision no matter what. That will help you to stay focused and don’t lose sight of your purpose.

2. Identify and appreciate your leader’s strengths.
Even though you find your boss it’s not good enough, he/she must have some strong qualities and traits. Don’t worry if you valorate them or not, only find them and appreciate them.

3. Commit to Add Value to your Leader’s Strengths.
Once you’ve established your leader’s strengths, and the ones that are more valuable to the organization. You should try to add value to those strengths. Look for ways to reinforce those strength points.

4. Complement your leader weaknesses’
If you’re smart enough you’ll see that helping your leader with his/her weaknesses is one of the best ways to add value to him/her, and you’ll also learn that when you’re at the top you can do the same.

5. Expose your leader to good leadership resources.
I like this advice, it’s sharing with the people who has a big influence in your life the best resources you’ve found about leadership, be it a book, a DVD, a website (like this one ) or any other resource you think adds value to your leader’s toolbox. Be aware of the way you do expose your leader to the information. The thing is, don’t go out there trying to “teach” your leader something, instead of that, go and ask for his/her opinion about this or that.

6. Support your leader publicly.
Don’t be afraid to support your leader publicly, but do so based on facts and on the strengths of your leader. Remember base your opinion on strengths and facts, not perceptions, and finally, don’t over do it.

Try to work on these 6 strategies to support your not so good leader and you’ll be recognized for adding value to the company and for helping to achieve the vision.

LEADERSHIP ACTION

1. Read the 6 strategies again and work every day to add value to your boss’ work, if you do so, you’ll be on your way to become a leader. Leaders always add value, always.