You as a leader

Identifying and supporting the hidden leaders is one of the things you have to do. The other is that you should improve your own leadership skills.

For example, as a leader, you should know how to motivate people. Let’s say someone has done something great in the project, and you want to motivate them by showing your appreciation. How about paying them a bonus? Is that a good idea?

The answer depends on the amount of money you’re paying, and the person’s need for money. If the amount-to-need ratio is high enough, it would probably motivate them. However, if the amount is relatively low, it would demotivate them. Now, let’s say your budget is really limited and you can only spend €100. Instead of giving them €100, which could be offensive to some people, you can order a nice pen and have their name engraved on it. Give them the pen and tell them how much you appreciate them, and that it’s a small gift to remind them of the company.

There are many misunderstandings about leadership skills. For example, charisma can help a leader achieve goals, and many think they have to look tough and self-assured to be charismatic. However, there are numerous different forms of charisma, and many of them rely on knowledge, kindness, supportiveness, etc. You can simply check to see which one is closer to your natural self and empower that instead of trying to imitate what charismatic people look like in movies.