You might think of a leader as a person who sets goals for others and encourages them to reach their full potential. But there are many different types of leaders and ways to think about leadership. From building relationships, skills of integrity and empathy to emotional stability, there is a lot you can do to develop your leadership skills that can be useful for many aspects of life.
You may be thinking, “leadership skills don’t apply to me” or “I don’t have a team reporting to me.” But think again, qualities of an effective leader can be applied in all aspects of life such as client relationships, relationships with coworkers and respect in the industry.
Styles of Leadership
There are a few different styles of leadership, from directive, “here’s what I want you to do, now go do it,” to empowering, “what can I provide you to help you do it on your own.” In my experience, I feel more invested in my work and excited to do the job when I feel empowered. Of course, it depends on the person and the situation, but empowering one another sets everyone up for higher satisfaction and productivity.
I recently went through The Travel Institute’s certification program, and one thing that really resonated with me was to “treat others how they want to be treated.” It is much easier to push your own beliefs and interpretations on another, but to put yourself in their shoes and approach something from their style of learning allows you to meet them where they are at and build rapport. This is a great idea to keep in mind when working with clients and coworkers as well. They will be much more receptive to what you are saying if you adopt to their style and put yourself in their shoes. Imagine a car sales rep talking about all the bells and whistles of the car when all you really care about is the price. The sales rep would probably find more success if they considered what was most important to you and focused on the value or the price rather than going on about the functionality of the car.
Qualities to Develop Leadership Skills
Leading comes easier to some people more than others, but there’s a lot you can do to develop your leadership skills. Being aware of the “dos and don’ts” can set you up for success. Here are just a few examples to consider.
It’s easy to get frustrated in certain situations, but remaining calm helps everyone think clearer and come up with solutions. Remember to take a few deep breaths and take breaks or get some fresh air if needed.
The travel industry is ever changing, making it a fun, fast-paced place to work. With entry requirements, weather changes and more, it helps to be adaptable. Being adaptable and accepting change makes it easier to stay calm; in turn this will help clients build trust in you as they know you have it under control.
Communication doesn’t always come easy to everyone – myself included. But there are some things you can practice to help develop your communication skills. Get to know others so you feel more comfortable communicating with them; be clear and concise, and throw in praise whenever possible (people love compliments).
Part of being a leader is to continue to develop yourself. Self-evaluation, weather after a sales pitch or how you reacted to a situation, allows you to take a moment to reflect and determine what you can do better at next time. You can start by asking yourself questions on how you think you did or what you could improve on for next time, learn from your mistakes, seek out continued education or learn from other experts in the industry.
If I’ve learned one thing about the travel industry, it’s that there are a lot of passionate professionals. Passion and knowledge also foster leadership. Fortunately, if you are passionate about something, it is more enjoyable to grow your knowledge on the subject.
Sure, some of these qualities come easier to some people, but with a little awareness, you can tap in to developing these skills.
Being a Leader to Your Customer
Travel advisors have all sorts of customers. As mentioned before, I love the approach of treating others how they want to be treated. Rather than what I grew up learning by “treating others how I want to be treated.” How thoughtful it is when someone adopts to your preferred communication preference and meets you where you are – doing the same for your clients will go a long way. For example, understanding if they appreciate the small talk or if they are ready to get right down to business.
Believe it or not you have a level of leadership with your customer. They look to you for expert advice. They need you to be responsive and reliable, sometimes at all hours of the day and night. You and your client have a certain level of mutual trust. You may be sending them halfway across the world. They want to know that you have their back, and you want to know they will make payments on time.
As you start out with a new client, or start to book a new trip, you may be asking a lot of questions in order to gather information and get to know them better. Active listening is key throughout the process. Active listening involves listening to understand so that you can better retain and action on what you’ve learned. Being an active listener with your clients takes skill, and one that does not go unnoticed by those that you’re talking to.
You’re inspirational; you know the travel industry better than they do. You have the influence to tell them where they want to go or not want to go. You may throw out wild ideas and things they may not have thought of on their own.
Clients will want to work with someone who is mature and emotionally stable. Being self-aware and comfortable in who you are is helpful when building professional relationships. Having empathy is a powerful tool to help read the emotions of others and to better understand others’ perspectives. Both are helpful to build effective relationships.
In a way, your clients are willing to follow you based on the relationship you have built with them throughout the sales process. Sounds a lot like a leadership role to me!
In Conclusion
I could go on about different characteristics of a leader, but what really earns my respect is when a leader treats me like a human that has a life and priorities outside of work. When a leader really listens when I talk, and genuinely wants to see me succeed, it makes me want to become a better person.
There is a lot you can’t control in the day to day, but to know what things you can control or influence help instill confidence in ourselves. Some things are out of our control, and that’s ok –how we respond is what matters.
There are many different types of qualities you can develop to become a better leader, and it’s up to you what sort of leader you want to become. With practice and a little self-awareness, you are on your way to becoming the best leader you can be.
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