Home Health & Hospice Week

What are the qualities of a good leader? Charisma? Integrity? Reliability? Strength of character? All of these qualities are important but, according to author and professor Jeswald W. Salacuse, it's equally important that a leader know how to negotiate.

Salacuse identifies four core aspects of negotiation-based leadership that you can use to make yourself a better boss:

1. Understand motivation. People will follow you if they believe it's in their best interest to do so. Find out what motivates your employees, be it commitment to the company, desire for advancement or simple financial compensation, and show them how you can help them achieve their goals.
2. Build real relationships. It's crucial that your workers trust you if you want them to do as you say. Employees who trust you will be far more likely to take risks for you and attempt to achieve goals you've set for them. And to earn their trust, you need to build positive relationships by communicating with them, showing them you respect them as people, and by proving dependable yourself.
3. Use your voice effectively. A good leader knows how to communicate her ideas persuasively to others. Tailor your thoughts, tactics, and medium to your audience. For example, instead of sending out a memo praising your workers for a job done well, consider whether it might have more impact if you thank each of them personally.
4. Impart your vision. Envision what you want your organization or department to look like in the future and use this vision to set inspirational goals for your workers. People admire big thinkers. So project optimism and confidence, and people will naturally want to follow your lead.