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Leadership ability determines a person’s level of effectiveness, and  your ability to connect with people affects your ability to lead since leadership involves influence.  This was the topic at a recent  meeting  of the Atlanta Chapter of  the Society of Human Resource Management. The presenter, Jackie Martin, gave several concrete tips on how to increase your leadership skills and  your effectiveness.

She asked, “How can you make your life better?  How can you add value?”

1. One way is to choose growth over stagnation or the status quo.  Below are some  ways that you can do this.

• Value your experiences with reflection.
• Invest in  training.  Workshops, seminars, webinars, and classes stimulate thinking and help to add value to whatever you do.
•  Do something beyond yourself.  Serve on a Board, volunteer for a charity or a professional organization.
•   Reflect on who has influenced you in a way that has increased your leadership effectiveness.
•  Make a “stop doing” list.  What things are your currently doing that don’t add value to your life?

2. Surround yourself with people who think differently than you.

•  Participate in a mentor/coaching relationship.
•  Join organizations.

Connectedness is your ability to identify with people  and relate to them in a way that  increases your influence with them.  Listed below are some ways to do this.

• Spend time with others.
• Listen to find common ground.
•  Ask questions of others.
•  Look for ways to thank others.
• Let people into your life.

3. It is important to develop rapport with people.

•  Show that you care about them.
• Make small talk.
• Listen and ask questions of them that allow you to get to know them better.
• Match your body language and tone of voice  with theirs.  If they speak slowly,  speak slowly.  If they speak faster, increase the  speed of your speak.

As you develop a  career development plan, incorporate this perspective and some of the concrete tactics to improve your effectiveness, and see how it helps your career.