Want to know if you’re truly excelling as a manager? KPIs and business metrics are easy to measure, but are not the BEST measure of your success as a leader. Here are three revealing indicators that speak volumes about the quality of your leadership:
1. Your team thrives without your constant presence and input.
They handle the day-to-day work confidently, competently and independently while you focus on strategic thinking, planning and decision making. If you feel you can’t take a holiday or be sick without everything falling apart, that’s not a sign of your importance—it’s a signal that something needs to change in your leadership approach. Is it more coaching or simply more trust?
2. Your people stay.
Here’s an uncomfortable truth: 75% of employees leave managers, not organisations. While it’s tempting to attribute departures to ‘career changes’ or ‘more money’ or ‘more flexibility’, these are rarely the deciding factor. Honest self-reflection is crucial. If you’re losing more than one team member annually, it’s time to look in the mirror. How can you become a better leader – one who people stay for.
3. You understand your team as individuals, not just as a group.
Can you confidently answer these questions for each team member?
- What truly motivates them?
- How do you adapt your communication style for them?
- What leadership style brings out the best in them?
Unfortunately, most leaders overlook the importance of these indicators. They need to be at the centre of your self-assessment because without excelling in these, you cannot maximise the strengths, potential, engagement and performance of your staff. Without them, you and your team will struggle to hit the KPIs and business metrics.
Which of these three indicators challenges your perspective on your leadership effectiveness?
