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Look some time to investigate organizations that have their act together. There is always an operations manager(s) – often called the operation person(s) – who ensures that everything runs like a well-owned machine.
They might not always get acknowledged, but remove them from day-to-day operations, and quickly, what was moving smoothly bottlenecks, wasting time, energy, and money.
Mastery of operations leadership is all about ensuring that the business engine hums, maximizing efficiency and leadership effectiveness.
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Operational leadership is the backbone of an organization's daily activities. It involves being responsible for a range of tasks and activities, ranging from setting direction, setting goals, minimizing costs, maximizing efficiency, and implementing business operations. Operation managers offer real-time feedback to higher levels of management about daily operations to inform strategic business decisions.
Operational leadership differs from other forms of leadership styles as it focuses on day-to-day activities and delivers the most effective and efficient operations for the organization. Some duties of operational leaders include:
These duties land squarely in the sphere of operations rather than strategy. Operational leaders often serve as a bridge between the board room and the production floor or operations arena.
With such a crucial role, operational leaders can significantly alter the trajectory of an organization by making decisions based on feedback from observing day-to-day operations.
One of the best examples of operations leadership is Steve Jobs's decision-making during the development of the first iPhone.
Jobs demonstrated his skill as an effective operational leader and changed several design features of the original iPhone based on operational observations. He did so while keeping his eye on the organization's goals.
Jobs famously changed the iPhone screen from plastic to glass to give the product scratch resistance. A leader sitting in a boardroom far away from operations staff would not anticipate such a design flaw. Apple is just one of the many organizations that benefits from strong operations leaders.
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Here are some of the many advantages of operational leadership, including how it works in combination with strategic leadership and how operational leaders play a key role in ensuring organizational success.
Fun fact: The average salary of an operational leader in the United States is $122,000
The question now is: how can I become an effective operational leader?
Education is key to becoming an operational leader. Invest in a relevant degree in the field where you want to become an operational leader. Because it is a job that requires understanding operations at a high level and authority, you'll need at least a bachelor's degree.
Some of the most common degrees for leaders include business administration, financial accounting, management, and operations management.
In addition to a bachelor's degree, investing in courses or certifications in supply chain management, Production and Inventory Management (CPIM), Lean Six Sigma, or project management is wise.
These degrees and certifications will help you build up your operations leadership skills and also improve your professional reputation.
This might interest you: Unleash Your Leadership Potential With These Leadership Development Courses.
There are several core leadership skills necessary for effective operations leaders. Some of these include:
This might interest you: Mastering Leadership Competencies: 10 Vital Skills to Learn (+Tips).
As an operational leader, you will face situations that require hands-on leadership expertise.
Start with an entry-level position in operations or a related field and gain foundational knowledge.
After the entry-level position, make your way to leadership roles with more responsibility, such as a team leader position, supervisor, or junior manager.
It is also important to get involved in all aspects of the organization. This step will let you interact with strategic leadership, operational leaders, and other skilled employees who will guide you on your journey.
Being an operational leader means that you have skills in all aspects of business operations.
For this reason, it is important to build relationships with other professionals and learn best practices while gaining insights. As a two-way street, you should offer value to others as well.
Find mentors who are operations leaders and can provide guidance on career progression by offering the following: knowledge transfer, skill development, networking opportunities, confidence boosts, etc.
Operational leaders work in a constantly changing world. New technologies emerge, industry trends change, and leadership methods evolve.
Knowing this, it is important to keep up with the latest trends in operations management. Engage in proactive career development and stay ahead of your field. Some of the ways of staying updated include:
To maximize your potential and work effectively on your operational leadership, apply for advanced leadership positions. These are positions that require specialized knowledge and experience.
Seek out titles such as operations manager, director of operations, or chief operating officer (COO).
The drive and ambition that leads you to bigger leadership positions will also make you a better operational leader.
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Operational leadership can impact an organization in the following ways:
Strategy execution includes multiple steps that could elude traditional strategic leadership components. Many organizations with lofty strategy goals fail at the execution phase. To hit strategic goals, you need someone to translate strategic concepts into actionable steps.
Operations leaders are best placed to translate strategic goals into actionable plans and to oversee execution. Strategic leaders will still oversee the big picture but with the help of operational leaders, the organization runs smoothly.
For example, if the strategic plan for a production plant calls for less waste and no lost time accidents, it will take the efforts of strong operations leadership to translate the plan into actionable steps, such as better raw material selection and more robust personal protective equipment.
Process management is a complex task that ensures business operations are efficient and deliver the maximum impact on the bottom line.
Operational leadership skills help leaders in monitoring progress, processes, and employees, identifying areas of improvement, and implementing operational changes and strategies to optimize performance.
Continuously monitoring daily operations and tracking key performance goals is the best way to ensure organizational goals and objectives are met.
Operations leaders play a big part in monitoring daily tasks and rectifying deviations that could impact the organization.
In addition to monitoring tasks, operations leaders can also monitor staff performance. They are best placed to hold meetings, create incentives, and actively listen to feedback.
Quality control is a key part of the business strategy for most organizations. Quality control is directly tied to the organization's business reputation, effectiveness, and long-term viability.
Leaders need extensive knowledge of day-to-day operations to perform quality control tasks effectively. With the right set of operational leadership styles and skills, the organization will deliver high-quality products and services.
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Unlock your potential and become one of the most effective operations leaders with Highrise's coaching and leadership development programs.
Highrise helps develop aspiring leaders by equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to thrive in today's dynamic corporate environment.
Don't wait: take the first step and start your journey to becoming the best operational leader.
Book a discovery call and start your journey today.
