Leadership in the tech business can be full of financial reports, project deadlines and information overload. It is easy to lose yourself in the minutiae of business. Consequently, it does not take much to lose sight of all the small, simple things that make a leader effective in the tech world. Set aside that stack of eMails or make some time after a meeting and step back for a moment. Sometimes, the simplest principles are crucial to effective leadership.

Here are our top 5:

Treat others as you would like to be treated

A common pitfall of many business leaders is viewing customers, business partners and even co-workers as sources of revenue. You may have an excellent team working with you but even they cannot work endlessly to meet every single complicated demand. A report by The Guardian notes that one in six Australian employees work 49 hours or more every week, which leads to reduced productivity. If you do not like working 49 hours a week, neither do your coworkers. Treating others how you would like yourself to be treated is a powerful way to gain respect from others and motivate people to work positively with you. At the end of the day, people love being treated like people and a human touch goes a long way in building rapport for future success.

Listen and think before you speak

In a world where everyone wants their voice to be heard, sometimes the best course of action is to pause and listen. Effective leaders listen to their customers’ needs, wants and challenges. Effective leaders listen to their coworkers and welcome new ideas. Effective leaders listen to stakeholders, investors and competitors. Listening effectively builds the foundation for a strong relationship. Actively listening to others enables you to speak louder and lead effectively.

Be transparent and honest

Hiding anything in today’s digital, interconnected world is becoming more and more difficult. It is stressful to keep secrets or harbour worrying thoughts. Many leaders who attempted to keep secrets were eventually exposed, such as former Federal MP Craig Thomson being caught spending union money on fine dining. Honesty and transparency with co-workers, customers and business partners lead to happier and more satisfying relationships. It is easier to sleep at night when you have nothing to hide and this ease of mind leads to more effective leadership.

Be surprising

People enjoy surprises because it breaks up the monotony of their day-to-day lives. Effective leaders surprise their customers, coworkers and business partners in positive ways. A smile, some praise or even some simple recognition like a pat on the back that surprises someone is sufficient to make their day better and leave a lasting, positive impression.

Be authentic

Effective leaders show humility and vulnerability. They are honest about themselves and honest to others. Customers, coworkers and business partners all love working with an authentic person because such a person is trustworthy to work with. In today’s technologically-centric world, the line between one’s public and private self is blurring. Effective leaders embrace this change and stay true to themselves to remind their colleagues that even effective leaders are human too.

Improving leadership skills do not always require going back to school or attending countless workshops by seasoned tech leaders. Some simple, straight-forward strategies, such as these, are good stepping stones for being a more effective leader in today’s busy tech world.

What are some of your principles you abide by to be an effective leader? Are there any other principles you would like to add to this list? Consider sharing some of your experiences with us in the comments below.