How Effective Leadership Cultivates Success
An effective leader has a vision, a strong sense of company purpose, and the ability to drive their team to achieve that vision. At Design Pickle, a global creative services company, cultivating the right leaders is the foundation of their success. Jim Pedicone, Design Pickle’s Vice President of Culture, shared some insight on the qualities that make an impactful leader to help you identify and nurture effective leadership.
Lead with Purpose
You can not overstate the importance of identifying purpose within our professional settings. To feel fulfilled and create an impact in our roles, we must be extremely clear on the “why” and responsibilities of every function. It is the job of a leader to provide that clarity.
Purpose-driven leaders set the pace for their team and help bridge inspiration to reality. By setting expectations early and collaborating on goals, these leaders ensure that the right people are in the right seat.
This approach also allows team members to foster their own self-organization and personal autonomy; employees are empowered to be proactive and build trust within their teams.
A Gem from Jim: “A leader is completely instrumental in enabling their team’s success. An impactful leader removes roadblocks. The best way they can do that is to lead with purpose.”
Know Your Core Values
Core values are real at Design Pickle. It is the collective responsibility of leaders and team members alike to not only abide by these values but let them guide their decision-making. As a leader, exemplifying your company’s core values is another way to provide clarity and purpose to your team.
Clear core values support a company’s vision and help shape its culture. When your business decisions align with your company values, it signifies to your team that everyone is working toward the same goal. This creates an environment of transparency and accountability that empowers everyone to perform their role in a way that preserves the company’s mission.
A Gem from Jim: “Your core values define your leadership style. Every decision, every message that is communicated needs to be filtered through your core values. It’s the only way to be successful.”
Build Your Work Culture
Directly connected to your company’s core values is your company’s culture. Your values help define your culture and give your team the tools to accurately convey it.
Leaders play an essential role in cultivating this foundation. It is their responsibility to reinforce behaviors that reflect the values and traits that make the business culture identifiable.
Our behavior at work, the way we communicate, and the way we handle both conflict and victories all affect company culture. A leader who is intentional about demonstrating expectations can craft the employee experience and has a better chance at boosting engagement.
It’s important to note that the atmosphere and success of a company all revolve around company culture. The effects are present within the workplace, throughout the company, and can even be felt by outsiders. Because of this, leaders must act as gatekeepers of company culture.
A Gem from Jim: “Performance alone is not enough. High performers that are a bad culture fit should not be welcomed.”
Effective leaders impact not only the team members they manage but also their company as a whole. Teams that operate under strong leadership tend to be happier, more productive, and more connected to their company. This is a domino effect that ultimately impacts your business’ bottom line.
Remember, becoming an effective leader doesn’t happen overnight. It is a process that requires you to assess your strengths and adjust when necessary. Evaluating who you are as a communicator and collaborator is the first step of this process and the foundation for leading others.
Tori Zackery is a social media aficionado, PR wiz, and multi-industry writer. As the Community Manager at Design Pickle, Tori manages the online presence and voice of the global creative services company.