Do you aspire to progress towards a management position? Here is why you should consider having a mentor.

Developing the best management approach depends upon aspects like personality type, the size of the business or team you will be managing, and the industry within which you operate. For instance, strategic leadership is most ideal for businesses that are looking into growth and expansion opportunities. In this context, a strategic leader is expected to create business development while at the same time managing the day-to-day business to guarantee stability and consistency. For smaller sized companies that follow a purely technocratic model, a laissez-faire leadership approach can be most efficient as each staff member would cover their area of knowledge with very little disturbance from senior management. Regardless of the model chosen, to make sure the success and resilience of any organisation, leaders need to set out some objectives at the start of each year as this is a guaranteed way to increase performance. This is something that people like Gianni Onorato of MSC Cruises will know.

If you're preparing to go for management or leadership positions in the future, among the best tactics you can use is shadowing a terrific leader in your organisation. While theory is always an excellent basis for acquiring knowledge, useful experience reigns supreme when it comes to learning new abilities. In the context of leadership, make certain that you find a mentor that knows you personally and validates what you want to accomplish. Your coach can be your line manager, a business person that you have a great relationship with, or even a member of the family. This experience can really assist you develop essential leadership traits as you would be learning first-hand from someone who has invested years and even decades in a position of leadership. Individuals like Peter Hebblethwaite of P&O would likely concur that shadowing efficient leaders can be a wonderful learning experience to help young leaders develop the right skillset.

Leadership is a constant learning curve that is often characterised by consistent adjustments and improvements to one's management approach. Much like any other skill, ending up being a better leader indicates equipping yourself with a myriad of leadership qualities that can help you add to the growth of your organisation and the development of direct reports. For example, individuals like Katie McAlister of Cunard would likely agree that taking part in honest and open interaction is among the most important cornerstones of good management. This is since having an open line of interaction with your staff would encourage them to be more transparent, which in time develops trust and enhances general morale. Beyond this, leaders should make an effort to connect with their direct reports and cultivate a sense of unity within the team. This could be attained in various ways but participating in team building activities is extensively viewed as the most effective.