The term "leader" is also not universally accepted. As Cyril Vulgarides, CEO of Technologia, points out, it's not uncommon to see the term "leader" overused in the media, or used for all kinds of purposes. "Already, I've rarely seen a position or title in a company called "leader". Rather: team leader, supervisor, director, vice-president... Are they all leaders hiding like Superman under his journalist's uniform?", mentioned Cyril Vulgarides in a post for La Presse in 2022. Be that as it may, this article will attempt to draw a broad outline of the skills required by today's professional "leader".
What are leadership principles?
They are the fundamental values and beliefs that guide an individual or an organization in their decision-making and actions. These principles represent a solid foundation that fosters trust, respect and responsibility for everyone on the team. These values also foster autonomy and a positive work culture in everyone's professional and personal life.
A few simple gestures to implement
HubSpot's article highlights a few concrete leadership behaviors you can put in place right now within your team or organization. This starting point can inspire you for the future. Here are just a few points:
1. Lead by example
As a leader, it's essential to model the behavior you want to see in your team. This starts with a manager's ability to analyze the mistakes he or she has made, so as to avoid repeating them. Necessarily, it takes a great deal of humility to recognize the mistakes you may have made, intentionally or unintentionally, along the way. The objective of setting an example is first and foremost to better identify one's limits and surround oneself with competent people to compensate for one's weaknesses, as mentioned by the Focus RH agency. A better understanding of one's mistakes and the ability to explain them, for the benefit of all, will be appreciated by the whole organization.
2. Communicate clearly and effectively
Good communication is essential to successful leadership, as it eliminates confusion and ensures that your team understands what is expected of them. The author of the bestseller "Good to Great", Jim Collins, writes in his book, "Don't confuse power with leadership: if I put a gun to your head, you'll obviously do what I want, but that doesn't make me a leader." Focus RH refers to a "leader" manager as one who gets employees to decide to perform a task on their own, not because they have to, but rather because they understand its importance and their role in the production chain.
3. Embrace innovation and change
It's important to stay open-minded and adopt new ideas and strategies to stay competitive. The HR Crossroads media also mentions that the manager should have "a dash of visionary thinking". The innovative HR manager envisions the future of the organization and its service clearly, and anticipates the changing needs and demands of its clientele over the medium and long term[6].
4. Delegate responsibility
Trusting your teams is the basis of a healthy relationship with your employees. For example, delegating and encouraging everyone to take responsibility is a simple approach that can significantly improve group dynamics and increase the productivity of your projects.
5. Set clear objectives and expectations
Defining clear objectives for teams will avoid any confusion as to each person's role and related deliverables. This way, each team member will know precisely what objectives are to be achieved and what expectations are attached to them.
There's more
At the 2017 HR Congress, Carrefour RH asked nearly 100 HR professionals in Quebec, across all hierarchical levels, what ingredients they considered most important for innovative HR leaders. The table below shows the three ingredients that received the most votes:
| Ingredients | Endorsement |
| Courage to act | 18 % |
| Reading your environment | 13 % |
| Creativity | 13% |
Conclusion
The leader who applies the principles set out here today is preparing his teams and his company for tomorrow's success. However, this is not a one-man race: to succeed, he must instill the same principles in the management teams of his organization. A shared vision ensures a cohesive leadership strategy that builds trust between teams, encouraging them to embark on the organizational project. If these elements of reflection seem rather complex to put in place, proceed step by step. The important thing is to take action and want to become a better version of yourself for the new year that's about to begin.
To find out more :
Leadership: the keys to guiding, mobilizing and inspiring
