Where to learn leadership skills? (ie: How to handle employees.)

[JEDI]

i own a computer consulting business. I might win a helpdesk contract. I have never lead b4. (always been a follower.)

Any suggestions on books, or courses to take?

 

[OutHouse]

watch office space. "Ummmmm yeaaaaa"

 

[zer0burn]

Im only 20 and I run a meat dept well used to, back in school now that summers over. I know its completely different situations but I had to gain the respect of people that were 2-3 times my age, and have been doing their jobs longer then Ive been alive. But I had been given the position for a reason...I had to tell them what to do. All I can say was that was tough.

The way to go about it is to do the work that no one wants to do. That way it helps gain their respect that your not just there to supervise work your ass off to make their job easier. Dont preach to people explain to them the way u want something and ask for their help, their ideas on how things should be done. U may not agree but you can come to a mutal agreement on the way things should be that'll work for all of you. A lot of times not pushing people you'll get the most out of them that way then you will if your constantly on their ass.

To get the most out of your employees the key is always to gain their respect...

 

[Balthazar]

Good leadership is something hard to lteach, and even harder to learn....

First thing to realize is that leadership has certain responsibilities that can be good, but more often than not, they are bad, you have to do what others can't, you have to get people to do what you want, how you want, when you want, without seeming like you are doing it. People hate feeling like they are being led, people love to feel like they are in charge.

Management can suck, but thats where the moolah is

For reference when I started my management position I had a little meeting the first day with as many people I would be interacting with as possible, introduced myself, my position, my work ethic, laid down some rules, and then turned it over to them, asked what they would like to see happen, took a bunch of input (heh not all useable) and people respected me right away, they saw that I care, that I know why I/We are here, and want this to go well, respect is key....

 

[Gibson486]

In my experience, you cannot teach leadership, it either has to be learned or be natural.

To be a good leader, you cannot expect people to respect you. You have to respect them.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Boy Scouts

 

[trmiv]

When you find out let me know, so I can tell my boss where to learn the skills too.

 

[UltraQuiet]

The way to go about it is to do the work that no one wants to do.

That's not being a leader. That's the easy way out. A real leader can get somebody else to do the crappy job.

people respected me right away

How could you possibly know that?

There are a million books to read on how to be a leader/manager/supervisor. Of course none of them last through the first real crisis. I have found that the key is to clearly lay out what you expect of your subordinates and be consistent in your dealings with them. Not inflexible but consistent. Experience will teach you more than anything else.

 

[abaez]

I'm a manager in a theatre and it took me a long time to get things going around here but the most important thing that I learned
is that your workers are humans just like you. Just because you have manager on your name tag does not give you the right
to order people around and you just stand there. If your employees see that you will work behind the counter or go up and clean up
an accident in the restroom when there is no one else to do it they will have immediate respect for you because you are working
with them, not above them. It's very hard to teach people this because everyone thinks they can just slack off once they get into
the office, if anything you have to work harder at everything to show that you respect their jobs and you appreciate what
they do for you and their employer.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
In my experience, you cannot teach leadership, it either has to be learned or be natural.

To be a good leader, you cannot expect people to respect you. You have to respect them.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Join the Marines for 6 years. I guarantee that you will learn leadership qualities, along with a few other skills, by the time you get out.

 

[zer0burn]

YOu do the work that no one wants to do because it shows your willing to first do the work. THen eventually everyone lends a hand and helps out equally.

 

[FoldingMan]

I too believe that leadership cannot be taught or learned, it's smoething you born with. If you have the gift however you can hone you skills.

 

[roncarter]

just tell the the STFU and listen

 

[clarkmo]

Originally posted by: FoldingMan
I too believe that leadership cannot be taught or learned, it's smoething you born with. If you have the gift however you can hone you skills.

I disagree. Leadership is about service. Your service to those you lead. There are all sorts of management prinipcles and practices you can learn. Some seem awful stuffy.
12028 books at Amazon.
There is a virtual plethora of info on the internet for help desk/call centers. Take a google tour.
This might help you get started.

 

[ElDonAntonio]

Check out the Dale Carnegie books, they're extremely interesting, very easy to read with each chapter summarized in a sentence, and considered the classics in the subject. For your particular need, read "How to win friends and influence people".
Don't worry, I'm sure you'll do just fine in all cases

 

[NogginBoink]

Find a mentor.

Talk to a manager you know and respect and ask that person if s/he would mentor you and help you develop management skills.

 

[Insomnium]

Clarkmo's right, management and leadership isn't something you are born with. Leadership comes about with years of experience, and that's really the only way to become a successful leader. Take coaching for example, all the countries top college football/basketball coaches probably sucked when they first started out, but years of experience yielded to where they are now - great leaders. Now you don't have years of experience, so you can build on the experience of others by going to Barnes and Noble or wherever else and reading books on Management and team leadership skills. Don't limit yourself to boring business books, read books on sports leadership, and autobiographies and biographies of leaders can help too.