What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

As a leader, you regularly evaluate the performance of your team. But when’s the last time you evaluated your own performance – specifically in the area of leadership?

Still thinking? Then you definitely want to read this post.

Merely having the responsibilities of a leader doesn’t necessarily make you an effective one. To understand where you’re successful – and where you could improve – you need to do some regular evaluation.

The Young Entrepreneur Council recently asked members how they assess their own leadership performance. Below, we’ve shared a few of the most unique:

Take a vacation.

Effective leaders empower their teams to handle things in their absence. They also have put resources, processes and policies in place to support that empowerment. If you come back from your trip to find business running as usual, you’re doing your job well. But if your inbox and voicemail are overflowing with unresolved issues and urgent requests? That’s a sign that your leadership skills need improvement.

Ask your peers.

The best feedback on your performance may come from others in similar roles. Join a business group (or start your own!) to share goals, evaluate one another’s performance and exchange best practices for strengthening leadership skills. Then, hold one another accountable for growth in areas of weakness.

Invert your review chart.

Instead of evaluating your team, turn the tables. Ask your immediate reports to review you – providing feedback about your accomplishments, areas for growth and transformational moments. Use their input as a starting point for open dialogue to improve your leadership skills, while strengthening both loyalty and culture.

What else can you do to evaluate your performance as a leader?

Consider how well you’ve integrated these essential habits. In this earlier post, “3 Important Things Great Leaders Do Every Day,” we shared several practices common among great leaders, including effective communication, resiliency and delegation. Conduct a quick personal inventory in each of these areas, to make sure they’re daily habits. If they’re not? Use the tips in the post to tweak your behaviors – and become an even better leader.

Want to be a better leader? Choose the right staffing partner.

The right staffing partner can improve your effectiveness, by:

• supporting your busy team;
• taking on pressing projects;
• improving productivity;
• and flexing your workforce in response to changing demands.

Contact your local Exact Staff office and let us know what we can do to help.