Group Counseling: A Comprehensive Counseling Guide

Advising or coaching can be a powerful tool for individuals facing common challenges. That is one of the benefits of group counseling. The dynamic in counseling groups promotes mutual support, varied perspectives, and shared learning.

Group counseling offers a supportive environment where people from diverse backgrounds come together to navigate life’s challenges and work on personal growth. Joining a group allows individuals to connect with others facing similar issues, fostering a sense of community and providing valuable insights, making group therapy a powerful tool in promoting mental and emotional well-being.

Group therapy provides some form of healing.
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Objectives of Group Counseling

What are the goals of group counseling? Psych specialists don’t always agree on experts’ exact objectives and principles, as they are frequently imprecise, general, and filled with insinuations. Nevertheless, there are five most common objectives that these experts agree on about group counseling:

    • Enhancing the client’s capacity and efficiency to cope.
    • Encouraging positive behavioral change.
    • Holistic development and personal growth.
    • Improving an individual’s ability to create and foster healthy relationships.
    • Supporting the decision-making process and enabling a person’s optimum potential.

This article will emphasize group counseling sessions and how such a professional can effectively lead people to become better versions of themselves.

A rising focus is placed on efficient mental healthcare in today’s world. This is a significant sign of improvement in the community, and the strategies of going through counseling in groups can often be puzzling. The implication is that there are various kinds of mental health treatments as there are practicing therapists. This is partly because of modern counseling’s focus on going through group therapy that works for the individual. This method takes on the idea from a somewhat wider perspective. These people encourage those suffering from various challenges to ask for help in support groups with the company of other groups of people with whom they can relate.

Batch therapy or group counseling is a great tool for assisting batches of people in surpassing some of their most difficult problems. Group psychotherapy is helpful as it teaches individuals to learn coping strategies that they can use for life – if it is appropriately done.

Group sessions or counseling in a group is a type of counseling that involves one or more therapists working with a small group of patients. Other group members often share similar difficulties and an important benefit from the support of closed groups or new group members and the group experience itself.

Many groups provide a supportive environment or safe environment in which people can explore alternative ways of thinking and behaving. They also offer an effective method, multiple perspectives, and alternative ways through therapy groups.

Steps On Leading A Group Session

Group Counselors Should Be Direct And Upfront But Not Assertive.

Group counselors dealing with eating disorders must be upfront about the approach and techniques used in therapy sessions. Anybody who leads a counseling session in a group must be upfront and honest about its objective – its intentions, how, whom, and what obstacles it hopes to aid these individuals present.

 

A trained counselor shares experiences and coping strategies during a therapy session.
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Transparency is essential in guiding individuals through the process of developing new behaviors, especially when transitioning from individual therapy to group sessions, ensuring that clients are well-informed about the counseling center’s methods and therapists’ continuing education to promote effective and ethical treatment.

However, this should not make the batch participants feel like they’re the targets of judgment and criticism. Among the most vital aspects of counseling is that individuals who come for the batch session want to feel part of a considerate and compassionate circle. If, instead, they feel like they’re being accused or condemned, the mental health session ultimately becomes unproductive. The counseling group may be unsuccessful.

A Stringent Rule Of Non-Violence During  Batch Therapy

It is vital to remember that overly controlling or forward behavior in a session should be avoided. However, there are also significant factors that should be completely disregarded. Among these is threatening, vicious, or otherwise overwhelming behavior. Many individuals, specifically those who suffer from social or personal problems, will crash when faced with intimidating behavior, and the session might become useless. In extremely bad situations, they may require help giving the idea another try – and may want to continue the treatment in a new clique. This type of behavior should be avoided – discreetly, if possible. If necessary, though, it should be shut down truthfully yet calmly.

Respect Privacy

No private, personal data is entitled to the client or to anyone for that matter. Individuals joining in a counseling group session must never be allowed to reveal any specific information, no matter where or when. This sense of responsibility and susceptibility is directly opposite to what is required to help overcome a range of common mental health challenges – many of which are what participants in a session are going through. Ultimately, it is up to the specialist or the true leader to dynamically protect their avid participants from this type of infraction, not merely evade their need for anything

Make The Group Session Fun And Interesting

This fact is frequently overly stressed when it comes to cliques centered on kids but concurrently under-used by groups catering to seniors’ and adults’ needs. Fun is a significant aspect of integration; socializing was made to be fun. If the true participants get bored because the sessions are repetitive, perky, or unjust, the group’s counseling sessions’ objectives and goals will become useless. A range of choices can help make adult batch counseling sessions fun and interesting. These can vary, from having doughnuts and coffee to creating new games to watching mental health-related movies that focus on overcoming the challenges that group participants are experiencing.

Like individual therapy, it can be very beneficial for the students involved. It can provide a safe place for them to discuss their concerns and get feedback from other members of the group. Most people feel more comfortable talking about their feelings and perceived benefits of group therapy than they do in-person counseling.

This type of therapy provides a supportive environment for the members.
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Batch Therapists Should Reassure And Inspire But Not Force

An individual has taken his initial and most important step towards facing his challenges upfront by joining batch counseling. Most probably, he has gone through individual counseling somewhere else, and this means that he has, in fact, attempted to make positive changes to his life and has perhaps retained some of these changes. Group participants should be reassured and encouraged to join counseling as decently as possible. Group leaders should inspire them to try batch counseling, but it is crucial to remember that they should not be forced to participate if they are not ready for counseling.

Final Thoughts On Batch Therapy

A group leader can improve the group’s overall success by reading, understanding, and following these simple counseling steps. Hopefully, group leaders will be more capable of developing more progressive techniques for coping with various mental and emotional challenges such as social anxiety. Consequently, it helps group participants learn ways of functioning more efficiently in their communities.

Joining group therapy is an important part of the counseling process. It allows peers to explore their feelings and emotions while interacting with other people. The counselor plays an important role, as they are responsible for setting expectations, providing guidance, listening to concerns, and interacting with other individuals. Group therapy can be a great beginning to establish the safety of the counseling process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Role Of Group Therapy?

What are the advantages of batch therapy?

What is an example of group therapy?

What are the characteristics of batch therapy?

What are the types of group therapy?

What are batch counseling techniques?

What are some issues in batch therapy?

How do I run a batch therapy session?

What are the disadvantages of group therapy?

How long should group therapy last?

Is group therapy effective?

How can group Counselling skills be improved?

What are the techniques in group therapy?

What is the value of group therapy?

What is the most important aspect of group therapy?

Traits Of A Leader That A Counselor Must Possess

 

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Aside from organizing students’ schedules and managing academic assessment exams and placement exams, school counselors are frontrunners that can tremendously play a role in improving and accelerating learning. They should convince others that their insights are valuable and working with school principals and other academic officials.

A school counselor has several responsibilities, including providing sound advice to students and referring them to external agencies, joining support communities, engaging in group counseling sessions, working with parents and teachers, and assessing and enhancing their own academic counseling system.

Below is a list of important leadership characteristics that a counselor must possess.

Empathetic

Being empathetic – placing themselves in the shoes of the individual they’re dealing with – significantly helps a counselor learn and understand the core problems. Experienced counselors agree that the capacity to understand their students’ experiences truly helps them do their job effectively. Empathy, according to them, encourages listening and an improved ability to assist their clients in finding worthwhile solutions to their issues. Students also become more comfortable and more eager to open up to them honestly.

Meaningful Listening

To start, any counselor must be a good listener. Generally, counselors deal with many students and often get very few opportunities to talk with them thoroughly in just one session. But seasoned counselors suggest that the primary need of humans is to grasp what the other person is trying to convey, and of course, to be understood by the other person as well. What better way to achieve this than by listening?

Counselors should be completely in the moment to be effective listeners. This means committing their full attention to the problem at hand instead of thinking about just simply doing their job description. Their view of the person’s issues and how they deal with them will show how much they have listened and understood them. They should also be open-minded while being cautious not to criticize until they have clearly understood the person’s story.

 

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Doing Evaluations

Evaluation skills are important for school counselors in several areas. From skills evaluations and personalized career and testing advisement, the counselor’s capacity to distinguish between desire and talent is significant in effectively providing counsel.

Evaluations also include identifying whether or not a student has specific needs and translating certain types of data to decide which position the students must be placed in and what kind of programs they can take advantage of.

Notwithstanding the purpose for the evaluation, the stages usually include but are not limited to:

  • Selecting the tests that should be performed and when.
  • Preparing and running examinations.
  • Providing sound advice to students, parents, teachers, and others.
  • Assessing examinations, results, and ensuing proposals and suggestions. Evaluations require some testing but should be combined with being empathetic, being a good listener, and ultimately the connection that has been established to identify how testing results relate to the students’ traits, needs, and goals.

Establishing Relationships

Building a significant connection with students or fellow counselors is not quite easy. But through empathy and great listening skills, this can be achieved quicker.

To talk to a counselor comfortably, a student should establish trust, ease, and acceptance. He must recognize that his counselor is a professional helper who can go to without fear of being criticized. On the other hand, a counselor who can create this unquestioning connection with a student is obviously more efficient in doing his job.

Being Versatile

If there is one thing that is sure in education, it is that change is constant. Programs, schedules, and obligations all disrupt a counselor’s everyday routine.

The needs of students and the requirements of the school in general frequently come first – scheduled meetings only second. Staff and parent issues, conversations within the classroom, and unforeseen counseling needs could all be distractive.

An efficient counselor must:

  • Utilize effective time management strategies.
  • Reserve short breaks daily in case of unscheduled needs.
  • Communicate thoroughly. Inform parents, students, and teachers of programs, schedules, as well as limitations.
  • Set realistic boundaries. Learn to know which ones are worth the distraction and which ones can wait.

By being versatile, counselors can deal with the stress that comes with the job better and will be more receptive when they need to counsel arises unexpectedly.

 

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Managing School Efforts And Activities

This can be aligned into various categories. Counselors need to synchronize education plans for students, including other specific programs for students. Along with managing student programs and collaborating with teachers and other staff, the school counselor usually organizes other tasks and activities.

In many situations, counselors are tasked with taking care of school announcements, newsletters, coordinating social media accounts, and other outreach and activity efforts.

The ability to manage and organize school efforts and activities needs robust management and leadership skills. Sharing these skills with the students by permitting them to be responsible for their own educational objectives allows the counselor to become a leader by example.

Possessing A Sense Of Humor

The capacity to see things with grace and humor definitely has several benefits. It allows students to realize that counselors are also humans and are capable of laughing at circumstances and laughing at themselves as well. Having humor is among the tremendous assets in establishing student trust and building a connection with them. It is frequently how those students associate with adults, either through humorous comments or jokes, that show a point that counselors are trying to convey. Finally, humor is a great stress reliever.

Conclusion

It definitely takes a blend of several leadership traits for someone to be an effective school counselor. He should be empathetic and utilize efficient listening skills to be able to establish harmonious and effective relationships. Counselors should also administer evaluations and manage academic efforts and activities. Possessing only one of these traits is not sufficient – and nobody is equally proficient in all of these traits.

 

 

Effects Of A Better Mental Wellness On Workplace Conducts

Mental health continues to be a taboo topic in the workstation. Some employers feel that they should not enter the personal lives of their employees. However, cognitive issues are not just a private matter. It also affects how they act and perform in the work area. With this in mind, here are some of the positive effects of promoting wellness in the company.

Admit it or not, psychological issues remain taboo. A lot of people still view cognitive issues and problems as something abnormal. Thus, many fear judgment from their colleagues, making them feel less comfortable opening up on their issues.

Having A Higher Working Optimism

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This boxed setting leads employees to sadness and isolation, which, most of the time, affect how people work and negatively affect mental health and cognitive performance.

Therefore, leaders need to step up and address the effect of good mental health on workplace behavior. To support their employees who are challenged by their mental health, they should execute some initiatives to help eradicate the stigma around this health topic.

For one, employers may spearhead an open dialogue. Let this be an avenue for experts to address the misconception revolving around work and health issues. It is the perfect avenue to promote awareness and educate the whole company on the ins and outs of mental wellness or mental health.

This way, everyone will have a deeper understanding of it. The more people are aware of the underlying ideas in this topic, the more their colleagues will have the strength to open up.

Having A Lower Absence Rate

Why is it important to take care of your overall mental wellness? Learn and understand your psychological needs so you can feel less uncomfortable opening up on your issues..
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Do you know that almost 17 percent of employees take a leave from work because they’re feeling anxious, depressed, or sad? They sometimes do not have the drive to get out of their bed and proceed with their work happenings. Some also feel less encouraged to go to the office since being in a place where no one understands them makes them feel isolated.

Meanwhile, if they have a good mental health condition, they are more likely to feel motivated to go to work, which means a lower absence rate in the long run.  Since more people are present, it increases overall productivity, which supports the business to be efficient. Besides, you don’t have to worry about getting relievers for your health conditions and concerns, given that they are there to work.

Having Better Employee Productivity

One of the best things that good workplace mental health provides to the company is high productivity. Believe it or not, the presence of mental illnesses will have adverse effects on how someone works and their corresponding output.

For example, workers will exhibit a lack of concentration and focus if there are issues with health in the workplace. Since many negative things are running in their minds, they tend to space out while working. Once they lose focus, they also lose their momentum and train of thought. Therefore leading to wasted time.

At the same time, burnout and poor overall health stem from poor mental health as well. For instance, some people may have a hard time sleeping because of ongoing worry and bothersome emotions. It may then lead to insomnia and then an insufficient amount of sleep. Due to lack of sleep, they most likely do not have the optimal energy to work the next day and manage work related stress, which results in lower productivity.

However, if their state of good mental health is at its best, there is a better chance that they’ll be pumped up to do their work. There is evidence based research that some bosses do not even have to exert that much effort to keep their workers going since their energy gives them the initiative to do more than what they are asked for.

Having Better Employee Engagement

According to the experts of the world health organization, it's not only the social part of employee engagement that gets touched when struggle happens, even the positive effects of promoting wellness in the company. 
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We have a lot of activities happening in the workplace. Some initiatives might be as small as weekly meetings, but there are instances that it’s as big as product launch nights and awarding ceremonies.

If your employees do not have a good mental health state, they may instead choose to skip these events. Lower employee engagement also comes from strained work relationships that stem from the mindset that they don’t have anyone to lean on in the office. But if they’re happier overall and with a reliable good mental health, this will give them the courage to interact more with the people around them. They’ll be relaxed to be their best selves as well.

According to the mental health experts of the world health organization, it’s not only the social part of employee engagement that gets touched when this happens. The complete engagement in terms of better decision-making, design thinking, and process workflow will be helpful in improving health at work mental health. This person will also most likely have more creative juices in their body. Therefore, they get to spearhead more ideas and initiatives that will help the causes of the business.

Delivering an excellent mental health wellness program in the office is not as easy as it seems. However, as a business leader, it is your responsibility to draft the best ones suitable for your company’s culture and environment. Without initiatives like securing good mental health, you might lose your best employees. Not only that, but not having positive mental health conditions at work will also cost your company in terms of its operating expenses.

Start with the little things and jumpstart from there — spearhead lectures and seminars to increase the knowledge on these topics. Then, once the stigma has been broken, this is when you can integrate more significant wellness activities. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are The Benefits Of Good Cognitive Wellness In The Workplace?

How Does Good Cognitive Wellness Affect Work Performance?

What Are Good Cognitive Wellness Behaviors?

How Can I Have A Healthy Cognitive Health At Work?

What Are The 3 Important Benefits Of Good Mental Health?

What Are The 3 Positives Of Having Good Mental Health Conditions?

What Are The Greatest Benefits Of Good Psychological Health?

How Does Good Mental Health Increase Productivity?

Why Is It Important To Talk About Cognitive Wellness In The Workplace?

How Does Mental Health Affect Behavior?

Why Is It Important To Have Healthy Behavior?

How Does Behavior Impact Cognitive Wellness?

How Can I Promote Cognitive Health Awareness At Work?

What Are The 2 Benefits Of Psychological Well-Being?

What Are The Positive Benefits Of Psychological And Emotional Health?

 

Positive Business Leadership During COVID Times

 

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The recent coronavirus outbreak has caused rapid and extraordinary changes, particularly in the lives of business leaders across the world. More importantly, their status of businesses are connected to the health of its employees, the health of the communities, and the health of the entire planet. Since the past two months or so, surprising transformations in our everyday lives are convincing businesses to get accustomed quickly and find various ways to survive and thrive.

Worldwide unrest has been making it tougher for leaders to find their balance – and those who want to work from a place of transparency are rather shaken from this global health storm. So the question that most of these leaders are confronted with is this: What can we do to move past such distinctly uncertain times?

Efficient and positive business leadership will help manage the crisis, regain strong communities, and be more prepared for moments of confusion and chaos. However, with so many unsure encounters emerging all at once, a lot of leaders might struggle to pave a clear path forward.

To gain a better position to respond efficiently, leaders must work on three essentials – identifying a clear purpose, providing support for investors and clients, and strengthening your managerial and emotional spirit.

 

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What is your purpose?

The first step to take is to reassess the purpose of your business. The enticement for opening businesses in these COVID times is frequently to go small, to stoop down, and focus on essentials and values. Right now, rather than tapering down their focus, business leaders in crisis must think about holding back and remembering their basic principles. Highlighting their company goals and purposes will also show your intentions to the world, and this imparts confidence and generosity among investors and clients who share these principles. In these COVID times when change is on a large scale, workers, shareholders, and employees alike will be more inclined towards companies where their purposes mirror their personal beliefs and morals.

What actions can you take?

This is the second of the three most important steps – to be aware of what actions need to be done to convey support to those who are relying on your business or organization, especially those who have more critical needs. This entails reevaluating who your shareholders are – from your clients and investors to workers, and the whole community as well. You should determine their needs and acknowledge that their needs may be different from each other. Finally, this involves identifying ways by which you can best serve them, which includes moving forward with operations with social distancing and health and safety measures in mind. Your shareholders are key people who push and gauge your success, especially during a time when success feels hard to attain.

How do you strengthen your emotional and managerial spirit?

This third step encompasses your need to find a resolution to weather the storm that is COVID-19. You can only do this if you are emotionally strong with tough managerial skills and spirit. To make this adjustment possible, identify the behaviors that make you a more compassionate, resilient, and competent leader. This may involve starting a new physical activity to energize you, regaining the focus that you need to become better, or simply making sure that you get adequate sleep—in a nutshell, finding equilibrium.

 

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Similarly, it is also vital that you inspire your teams. When confronted with a tremendous number of serious decisions, business leaders – or any leader for that matter – will possibly feel tempted to tighten the grasp of their position. Still, a resilient leader relies more on shareholders and collective insights, structured throughout a network of people with clear directives. Encouraging leaders with the right attitude and personality – those who are constantly driven and versatile and are willing to make tough but brave calls – is crucial for sound and quick decision making.

The ability to be aware of our obligations and opportunities and to understand who we truly and what we value the most are skills that will strengthen us during and after the pandemic. As we traverse a vague and narrow path today, how we deal with today will determine where we are going tomorrow.

 

 

 

How You Can Show Good Leadership During A Global Crisis

 

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A quote that became popular during Winston Churchill’s era is now recalled to describe the recent COVID-19 pandemic and how the world leaders will be able to handle the situation: Cometh the hour, cometh the man. In a time like this, where millions of lives are at stake, and the economy is plummeting, policymakers, company executives, and different leaders around the globe are put to the test. The ‘hour’ has come again – in need of the right ‘men’ who will navigate us to and through this global crisis.

Indeed, the way through this crisis is not at all easy. Aside from the apparent dilemma of choosing the right way to take, leaders are also responsible for ensuring the public and convincing them to abide by the decisions that the government makes, such as social distancing guidelines, despite how much it has taken a toll on employment and other personal concerns. Making a wrong turn could easily damage trust and cause unrest that will ultimately aggravate the dangers that are being posed at present. Thus, it remains to be seen whether or not these world leaders will come out victorious in providing the necessary response to these devastating times.

But before anything, leaders must remember these two important principles so that their ‘command and control’ measures won’t be anything but a show of who’s boss. Leadership must begin with compassion, honesty, and transparency.

 

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Sugar Coating Is A No-no.

This is one of the most common mistakes that a leader must avoid if they want to build trust instead of discord. This happens because policymakers think that when an unexpected crisis occurs, most of the public will panic and be overwhelmed, but studies have never backed this up. In fact, the chances that the public will panic because of what the government will tell them are quite low (panic buying is not included, though). A good leader, no matter how hard it may be, must be open about the problem that the community or the country is facing. He should not think of himself as a father protecting his children from harm. He must regard them as adults that can make a positive difference when the problem is given to them in complete detail. Level with them. Without transparency, people will eventually sense dishonesty, decreasing your accountability and, therefore, the trust in the government or organization’s policies.

Convey A Sense Of Purpose

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, South Korea made an exemplary presentation of the concepts of successful crisis management. It had begun to collect COVID-19 test kits years before a pandemic had hit its shores, and this had enabled them to test 10,000 of their citizens daily when the infection rate began to rise. They also utilized a mobile app that would update the people about the current situation. The country then has established the importance of having a sense of purpose, perhaps also because of the MERS outbreak that it has experienced in the past.

Most leaders still do not get to appreciate the essence of conveying a powerful message in the face of a crisis, specifically when it comes to transparency and consistency. They must not belittle the impact that their words can do to a people and a nation. Analysts agree that the content of a political speech is as vital as the final decision that a leader makes.

New York City Mayor Giuliani’s response to the 9/11 attacks is also an example of a great way to manage a crisis. He communicated honestly to the people and by appealing to them to show the real strength and courage of New Yorkers. This gave the public a sense of pride and morale that would have helped the city go through the grief and the whole situation as peacefully and successfully as it could have.

 

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People need a leader that projects empathy and a clear understanding of what the situation is and to bring it to them with hope and confidence that together, the crisis can be dealt with and surpassed. It is perhaps quite a difficult feat for leaders, but if they can achieve it, and in this case, help their people overcome the challenges of COVID-19, then the people will feel visible and heard.

 

 

 

 

Think Like A Leader

Are you an example of a person who looks at yourself as powerful, dominant, and authoritative? Is that your definition of being in a higher position? Or are you the one who entirely knows that you are a person who has complete responsibility for other people’s will of success? If you are the definition of an individual who seems too focused on himself, then you might want to reconsider your status. But if you are the person who values your leadership commitment to others, then you are what they call a leader.

Alan Lyons, a business psychologist says, “This connection is supported by research showing that emotional skills are critical to the successful performance of individuals at the executive level. Further, the more someone progresses through the organizational hierarchy, the more important emotional skills become in their success.”

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Real Talk

The misconception of leadership is that a lot of people think of it as a rank or a top position. However, it is not. Leadership is a decision one take to fully comply with other people’s needs and desire to succeed in life. Leaders are instruments that allow others to understand their potential. They are other people’s guides to better self-development and growth. Leadership is a choice, and it has nothing to do with people’s capability to stay relevant. It is all about the ability to remain reliable all the time for the benefit of others.

Robert Nauert Ph.D. quoted in his article, “Leadership support is essential in any workplace change, including wellness. Most employee wellness initiatives don’t utilize the power of manager leadership — this strategy is unique in that it really taps into the manager’s ability to lead their team to wellness,”

What some leaders do not understand is their lack of overall potential. Yes, some leaders are born with great talent, skills, and abilities. However, those positive traits do not often guarantee a strong position of becoming a responsible individual, especially when handling people with different opinions and beliefs. Leadership is not something someone would think of as being smarter than the rest. It is not about people’s above-average capabilities that take them to the top position. It is their willingness to help and offer value to other people’s lives. It is all about commitment, selfless love.

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Bad Leadership

Leadership does not mean power. It does not disrespect others just because they cannot come up with better contributions to the team. If that is how current leaders picture things, then they are not qualified to become leaders. Because when things get tough, they never usually make it. With that, they blame everyone and everything else except for themselves. It becomes a lousy leadership because the people in the position never take accountability for their actions. In addition to the damage, most of these bad leadership usually take credit for the things they do not do. It becomes a problem because the consistency of this negative behavior results in the teams’ instant collapse.

Bad leaders are usually not accessible. Psychologist Nikki Martinez, Psy.D. explains, “Part of being a manager includes being available to answer questions, help you work through tasks you might be struggling with, and generally be your go-to adviser, so it’s a problem when managers make themselves inaccessible. You might not be able to trust your boss if they don’t seem approachable.”

Leadership must have to be a balance equation. The people in the position should understand that for people to follow them, they must set an example. They must promise to provide a reliable source of positive energy that can make the team appreciate their effort and capabilities. Leadership is not something one can impose instantly. It requires experience and a lot of learning. Leaders should understand the importance of thinking about leadership differently. It is not about how smart people are or how capable they can be. It is always all about their ability to help those who are in need.

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What Are The Things That Support A Better Leadership?

Leaders are influential because they create a higher level of organizational goals. They keep the team intact, and they allow everyone’s growth. These people help manage the efficiency of the group by creating a healthy human relationship. Their skills are beneficial in providing a better system that allows industry, a business, or a community to have a better social and goal-oriented foundation. With all the great qualities leaders could have, have you ever wonder what supports their better leadership? Let’s talk about some of those.

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Radiation Of Positive Energy

Great leaders function well when there is a radiation of positive energy inside and out. That is especially when it comes to the people surrounding them. For these individuals, the trust that people give is essential in keeping these leaders’ ability to concentrate on their duties. The radiations of positive energy from everyone around help these leaders to become more committed and reliable in their ways. It allows them to have a higher standard for their quality services, boosts the teams’ morale, as well as productivity.

“I’m convinced that the ultimate measure of a leader includes the leader’s track record, their pattern of behavior, contribution, aspiration, and accomplishment over time—across multiple platforms and contexts,” says Paul G. Stoltz, Ph.D.

Presence Of Proactive Attitude

It becomes easy to blame someone else when something goes wrong. But for most leaders who handle complicated situations, their leadership gets based on a proactive attitude. It is where the leadership mentality tries to shift focus to the entire better view of the situation. A proactive approach helps leaders to become more aware of solving the problem instead of complaining too much about it. The attitude allows leaders to take charge of the consequences and handle the damages of wrong decisions as well.

According to Ronald E. Riggio, Ph.D., “The transformational leader makes sure that “we are all working together for a shared purpose and the good of all.”

Better Communication

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There is no such thing as great leaders without better communication. People in the position know that communication is the best support for their leadership needs. It is where these individuals in the position can have a better understanding of the teams’ wants and needs. By merely having a conversation of what needs to get done, leaders and the followers can work together. That is because communication allows more significant ideas and resolutions to any team matters.

Complete And Reliable Delegation

Leaders fully understand that they cannot work on any task alone. That is why delegation is essential to their leadership. No, delegating a job does not mean leaders are trying to stay out of their responsibilities. Instead, it allows everyone to participate in the team’s matter concerning the group’s ability and skills. It means trusting everyone in the team without micromanaging their moves but only focuses on their contribution.

“Leadership by example can be powerful and inspiring. Inspiring personal stories of overcoming personal and organizational challenges and adversity can help “show the way” to move the organization to a new level.” – Melanie Greenberg, Ph.D. 

There is nothing more important in a team than passion, and everyone’s will to succeed. So when everyone shares the same goal, people are most likely to achieve it together. Understand that leaders cannot do it alone. They need help from everyone on the team. People should realize that not because they are the leaders, they are worthy of creating decisions and finish the task all by themselves. These people also require assistance and support, which the team can wholeheartedly offer.

 

 

Establish Yourself To Become A Leader (Part II)

The position of being a leader is not something you can get any time you want. You have to earn it. You have to make sure that you deserve the position and that you are capable of handling people. You need to require yourself to become the best so that people will follow your every word and action. It is your sole responsibility to allow individuals to choose to listen to your principles. But to be able to do that, you need more than just skills, the right attitude, self-confidence, and ideas. You need a better version of yourself, and here is how you can do it.

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Listen To Others

Great leaders do not create a decision based on what these people personally think is right. These individuals manage and build their judgment based on people’s suggestions and opinions. These people know how to listen carefully to what the team feels. So as you see yourself in the leadership position, make sure you understand the importance of listening as you take charge. It is essential to help you make better judgment and solutions. It makes connections smooth. Also, listening to others allow you to learn more by bringing people’s idea forward to the table. It creates opportunities not only for your growth but for everyone else’s development as well.

Melanie Greenberg, Ph.D. says, “Great leadership involves bringing out the best in your followers. You need to create an organizational culture in which the strengths and potential of each individual are valued and recognized; one with sufficient flexibility to motivate different types of people and allow them to thrive.”

Learn To Delegate

Leading people is not at all equivalent to you taking and working on the entire task. To accomplish more things and reach a higher percentage of productivity, you have to learn how to delegate. Not only you create a responsible environment for everyone, but you are also adding value to each of your team members. It means you are considering the skills of everyone that you trust them enough to work on their tasks accordingly. Delegation stands for considering people’s capabilities equally or even better than what they can. But note that when things do not go your way, always be patient and be considerate in lending a helping hand.

Source: flickr.com

Treat People With Respect

To become a leader is something that puts you in a dominant position where you can create a reliable representation of your capabilities and abilities. However, that particular position does not serve to disrespect others. Leadership gets associated with respect, and that is something you always have to understand. If you want people to follow you, you need to adhere to their needs. Never think less of your team for whatever reason, even if you think you can do a better job. Always respect people because they deserve that. “The transformational leader,” says Ronald E. Riggio, Ph.D., “makes sure that “we are all working together for a shared purpose and the good of all.”

Be Yourself

When establishing yourself to become an excellent leader, always remember to be yourself. Be your own leader, and never aspire to become someone else. That is even if the leadership strategy of others pretty much worked before because it does not guarantee the same amount of respect and productivity once you’re in the position. You need to do things your way to understand your situation well. Create a maximum benefit for yourself and the team by allowing personal development.

According to Alan Lyons, a business psychologist, “The understanding, regulation, and use of emotions by leaders can have a substantial impact on their ability to lead. This connection is supported by research showing that emotional skills are critical to the successful performance of individuals at the executive level. Further, the more someone progresses through the organizational hierarchy, the more important emotional skills become in their success.”

In leadership, it is always the best option to start within establishing yourself.

 

 

Establish Yourself To Become A Leader

Source: flickr.com

A leader is a position that a lot of people admire. It takes power and control over what they want and where they want things to go. A lot of people look up to them because leaders often have twice as many responsibilities rather than rewards. But not every individual can become a leader whenever they want. That is because leadership requires skills and hard work that pretty much does not appeal to every person moving towards their goals. So if you’re going to step up and encourage yourself to become one, consider some tips that genuinely help a lot.

“I’m convinced that the ultimate measure of a leader includes the leader’s track record, their pattern of behavior, contribution, aspiration, and accomplishment over time—across multiple platforms and contexts.” – Paul G. Stoltz, Ph.D. 

Useful Tips

Learn From Other Leaders – The journey that a lot of leaders take is different from each other. However, one thing that these people share in common is a failure. Yes, all leaders experience the struggle and hardship of building something worthy of their time, motivation, and effort. A lot of them fail in all these aspects because there are instances that they can no longer control unfortunate situations. Some obstacles and challenges somehow make some of them quit their leadership. As an aspiring one, learn from these leaders’ experiences, note their mistakes, and internalize their resolution process. With that, you can have an idea of how others fail and succeed. As psychologist Lily Kelly-Radford explained, “We believe that leaders learn and they grow, but they don’t learn and grow in the same ways” as each other.”

Believe That You Are Capable – One thing that separates real leaders from others is their belief towards their capabilities. These leaders bring the energy and motivation to the whole team all the time. That is the reason why there is a lot of productivity when there is effective leadership. Therefore, it is vital that you look at yourself as a leader and that you are reliable, confident, skillful, and responsible. Listen to yourself when it tells you that you are worthy of becoming one. Because when you are positive and confident, people will automatically follow you.

Source: libguides.humboldt.edu

Build The Applicable Skills – There are tons of leadership skills out there that apply to different industries. It is necessary to note that understanding the required skills for a particular purpose is essential in building leadership. Meaning, it is vital that you don’t waste your time learning and mastering an art that is not related to the industry you are handling. So to get in the position you see yourself in, you have to prepare yourself in a leadership role even if that takes you to work behind the scenes.

Share Your Ideas – Not all leaders are good at planning. Not all of them are great at decision-making as well. But the thing that makes these people worthy of their position is their ability to share ideas with the group. These people have a vision that they want others to know and understand what it is all about. So if you’re going to become a leader, do not be afraid to share your ideas with the team. Let them know that you are mentally and ideally present.

Remember that it is not easy to become a leader. But the right attitude will eventually lead you to the position.

Former psychotherapist Professor Hannah Greenwood conveys this powerful message: “Business leaders must have a clear personal vision, says Greenwood. They must have a strong sense of purpose and a desire to create a better future. Why? Because the key task of leadership is to bring hope to those that follow them.”