Good leaders are caring, generous, and understanding. The best leaders are all those things, but they’re also extremely efficient. Efficient leaders get things done. They waste less time, money, and manpower, and they typically see production more quickly.
To be the best leaders we can be, we need to up our efficiency, learning how to get things done at the right time in the right way. Here are 5 moves efficient leaders master.
1. Delegate fearlessly.
You can’t do it all. A lot of people think they can, but the reality is no leader is capable of doing his or her job effectively while saddled with every single task. The most efficient leaders learn to delegate. Find trusted people you know will work hard and do a good job. Give them the opportunity to carry some weight. Then, walk away. Don’t meddle in their process. Don’t micromanage. Delegate fearlessly, expecting that the people you’ve entrusted with important duties are capable.
2. Prioritize consistently.
We feel pulled in so many different directions these days because of constant communication, notifications, and emails. Effective leaders identify what deserves attention now and what can be held until later. What’s most pressing? What requires immediate attention? Focus on those things first. Time is a precious and finite resource. Don’t waste any of it on things that are not pertinent.
3. Embrace automation.
My wife, Susan, really likes artificial intelligence tools. She uses four different AI programs each day to help her with everything from meeting notes to podcast prep. She’s a great example of embracing automation in order to grow. That doesn’t mean she never uses her mind and is content with machines doing her thinking. But she uses the tools at her disposal to be more creative and efficient. It leaves her with more time to spend with the people she’s leading at work.
4. Empower others.
People like feeling empowered. This often happens when leaders show belief in people, give them opportunities to shine, and compliment them often. Harvard Business Review analyzed 105 studies and concluded that when leaders empowered others, it boosted overall creativity, connectivity, and trust in leadership. When people feel valued, they contribute at higher rates. All leaders want that. Efficiency starts ticking up when people believe what they do matters.
5. Allow and embrace feedback.
As a leader, if you don’t want to hear criticism, you don’t want to improve. Give people the right to tell you how they really feel. Don’t be afraid of critique. This is what sharpens us as people but also streamlines us as leaders. We all have blind spots. Do we speak harshly and not know it? Are we dismissive of ideas? The information we glean from open and honest conversations, when applied, can make us better.
What else do efficient leaders do? Share in a comment.
