Contrary to popular belief, there are very few people who are born leaders. Most effective managers and leaders have had to learn how to be successful at leading teams of people. If you are new to a management position you should look at how you can improve your skills so you are more likely to succeed in your new role. Training and development will also ensure you enjoy your new position and get the most possible out of it. Take a look at these things you can do right now as you learn how to be a better leader.

1. Dress to Build Influence

You are not dressing to impress as a new manager. You don’t have to change your personal style or go overboard on make-up, flash suits, or expensive haircuts. You do need to dress to reflect your own personal brand. Don’t let appearance overshadow substance.

2. Keep Your Promises

You don’t want to be like those politicians who claim to offer everything you’re looking for, only to back down once in office and fail to deliver. The same goes for other leaders – if you break your promises you destroy your credibility. Never promise things to try and make people feel better, then fail to deliver. Make it your goal to match everything you say with action.

3. Focus on Personal Growth

You need to look at how you build your team but you cannot neglect your own personal growth. In most cases the growth of the team will come from your own growth. LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT TRAINING programs are a vital part of focusing on your own growth so you can develop the skills you need to be a good leader.

4. Treat Your Team As You Treat Customers

There’s nothing worse than a manager treating customers like gold then badmouthing their team and then expecting them to be nice to customers. How you treat people will filter down to how they treat people. You shouldn’t let your team walk all over you but you should remain civil and helpful at all times, as you would with your customers.

5. Ask for Feedback

The best way you are going to learn if by being told where you can improve, and when you may have missed an opportunity, as well as when you have done a great job. Don’t hang around waiting for feedback from people on your team. Ask how you could learn to be a better leader and what you could do to help make the team more effective.

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