Business

6 Tips to Help Managers Become Leaders

Published

3 years ago

February 19, 2022

You might be a good manager if you have the right skills, but it is hard to wear leadership shoes when your feet don’t fit. Many managers are in for a rude awakening as they learn how difficult it can be to become a leader. Managing people is not easy, and even worse, it’s not always fun.

You need to stay focused on the job at hand, yet that requires taking time away from it. It also means being willing to make unpopular decisions and face backlash from those they impact. This is especially true if you’re leading a team or department of employees.

The Difference Between Managers and Leaders

Managing others isn’t about doing their jobs well; it’s about helping them do theirs better. If you want to be a great manager, you must understand that the best leaders don’t necessarily know the most about what needs to get done.

Instead, they are the ones who inspire others to work harder, faster, smarter, and more creatively than ever before. They are the ones who can make the tough calls when everyone else is paralyzed by fear or doubt. They take action when no one else dares to move forward.

Here Are Six Tips For Becoming A Great Leader

1. Be Honest With Yourself

It’s easy to tell other people how things should be done, but you’ll never be able to lead effectively if you can’t admit your weaknesses. It’s not enough to say, “I’m too busy,” or, “The project just doesn’t seem important.”

No matter how much you want to delegate responsibility, you will always be responsible for making sure everything gets done. And, as the leader, you need to be honest with yourself about whether you’re really up to the task. Are you delegating because you don’t have time to handle it? Or, are you afraid of failure? Leaders who are willing to take risks, even if they fail, are the ones who get things done.

2. Ask For Feedback

If you want to improve, you need to ask for feedback. You might think it’s an inconvenience, but you’d be surprised at how often people will offer constructive criticism if you ask. Even better, it will help you grow personally, so it’s worth putting in the effort.

3. Set The Example

People follow leaders, not bosses. You need to model the behavior you expect from your team members. If you want them to act professionally, you must act professionally. This includes things like arriving early and staying late.

4. Keep Your Priorities Straight

Being a leader means knowing where you’re headed and having the confidence to take action. If you don’t know where you’re going, you won’t get there. That’s why it’s essential to keep track of all the tasks, projects, and goals you have on the go. Having a clear vision helps you avoid getting distracted by urgent items and focus on the important stuff.

5. Take Responsibility

A great leader takes accountability for their mistakes, accepts responsibility for the consequences, and never blames others. A good leader knows that everyone makes mistakes, but they also know that learning from them is part of the process.

6. Learns and Develops Skills

Leaders are constantly growing. They learn new skills, take on new challenges, and work hard to improve themselves. If you want to become a great leader, you need to do the same. Learning is the key to growth and helps you adapt to change.

How Can A Leadership Coach Help

As a manager, you already know the importance of being open and honest with your team members. But there are many ways you can coach them to become better leaders themselves. One of the best ways to do this is through mentoring programs, which pair experienced leaders with less-experienced ones.

These programs can help develop your protégés into future leaders. Another way to support your team is by teaching them to lead by example. When you take on a leadership role, you have to be willing to sacrifice your comfort for the organization’s benefit.

Coaches like Stavros Baroutas help managers become influential leaders. The Stavros Baroutas Android Application offers a fresh look at personal development with interactive coaching features and a goal-oriented approach. This app’s daily videos and podcasts will help you achieve your goals. After viewing these videos, you’ll have a different perspective on life because they’re so transformational!

How Can You Start Working On Your Leadership Skills

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for becoming a great leader. You need to find the path that works best for you. However, some common traits are necessary for success regardless of the method you choose.

You need to be self-aware, disciplined, and comfortable making unpopular decisions. You also need to be willing to take risks and accept responsibility for the consequences. To succeed as a leader, you must first recognize that you’re a leader.

You must then commit to the journey, and you must be willing to put in the work. Finally, you need to believe in yourself and your ability to make a difference.

Final Words

Leaders are constantly under pressure. As the leader, you need to balance the needs of your team members with the needs of the company. This means making tough decisions, sometimes without consulting anyone else. It’s not always easy, but if you’re committed to leading, you need to embrace the challenges. Once you’ve made it to the top, you’ll discover that the rewards are far greater than the stress.

Business

Remote Professionals Getting More Value for Their Work Thanks to Borderless Banking

Published

3 days ago

July 10, 2025

Matthew Wiles

Not too long ago, the idea of working remotely from an island in Thailand or a co-working space in Berlin sounded like the kind of fantasy only tech moguls or backpacking freelancers could afford.

Fast forward to today, and it’s as good as a global reality. Millions of professionals have cut the cord from traditional office life in exchange for flexibility, freedom, and a work-life balance that fits their personal rhythm and not their employer’s timezone.

However, as remote work has reshaped how people earn a living, it’s also pointed out the existing limits to most of the world’s financial systems. Traditional banking simply wasn’t built for a workforce that’s always on the move, operating in multiple currencies, and getting paid across borders.

Thankfully, that’s where borderless banking like Black Banx have proven vital, and has quietly transformed the way money is managed for people vacationing and working overseas alike.

The Rise of the Remote Work Economy

Remote work isn’t just a pandemic-era trend that faded with Zoom fatigue—it’s become a defining feature of the modern workforce. A recent survey revealed that over 39% of Gen Z and Millennials planned to live and work abroad for extended periods this year, many staying six months or more in a single location. That’s beyond a short trip, and can be considered as good as a sabbatical with a substantial lifestyle shift.

According to recent estimates, the digital nomad economy now also contributes as much as US$787 billion annually to the global economy. And this isn’t just entry-level gig work. A third of digital nomads earn between US$100,000 and US$250,000, while another third take in US$50,000 to US$100,000 annually.

It is indeed evident that the manner in which many make a living has changed. Unfortunately, most financial systems haven’t kept up.

Where Traditional Banks Are Still Falling Short

For those who have ever tried to open a bank account abroad or receive payment from a foreign client, they already know the drill: the paperwork is endless, delays are frustrating, and the fees? So much to do, even for the smallest amounts of money.

Just to name few of the hurdles remote workers still face with conventional banking:

Account setup restrictions: Need proof of residence, tax IDs, or a local job offer—things many digital nomads simply don’t have.
Slow international transfers: Payments can take days to process, which is a nightmare when rent’s due.
High foreign exchange fees: Currency conversions often come with steep, hidden costs.
Limited multi-currency support: Most banks still force users to operate in a single currency, making financial planning chaotic at best.

And perhaps most tellingly, many banks have digitized their operations but haven’t personalized their services. According to Accenture’s 2025 Banking Trends Report, while digital transformation has improved efficiency, it often sacrifices the customer experience. That’s not great news for people who live outside the lines.

Borderless Banking for Professionals Across the Globe

The concept of borderless banking goes far beyond wiring money internationally. Fundamentally, it’s also about being able to eliminate the friction between people and their money, no matter where they are in the world, and maintaining an ecosystem where geography, bureaucracy, and currency don’t stand in the way of financial freedom.

A working example of this is Black Banx, a Toronto-based fintech founded by German billionaire Michael Gastauer. Since launching globally in 2015, it has grown to serve over 78 million clients in 180+ countries as of Q1 2025, proof that people take to digital banking solutions when it is accessible, affordable, and is useful in just about any locale.

In the first three months of this year, Black Banx had also earned US$4.3 billion in revenue and US$1.6 billion in pre-tax profit, more than double from the same quarter the previous year and showing it has consistently delivered tangible value to global customers—remote professionals included

How Borderless Banking Maximizes Value for Remote Workers

1. Instant Account Access—No Strings Attached

The times of hunting down local branches or collecting endless documents just to open an account are finished. With borderless banks, users can open an account in minutes using just a photo ID—no proof of address or income required. That’s a lifesaver for anyone living outside their passport country or hopping from one location to another.

2. Multi-Currency Mastery

Managing money in multiple currencies used to mean juggling several accounts—or worse, losing money on conversions. Borderless platforms like Black Banx support 28 FIAT currencies and allow real-time currency conversions at competitive rates. That means remote workers can:

Invoice clients in one currency
Spend or save in another
Hedge against local currency fluctuations
Avoid excessive conversion fees altogether

3. Seamless, Real-Time Global Payments

Getting paid late, or paying others late, isn’t just inconvenient; it can damage relationships and disrupt your cash flow. With real-time payment support, remote workers can receive funds instantly, no matter where their clients are. This is particularly valuable for freelancers and entrepreneurs juggling multiple contracts across time zones.

Plus, bulk payment features and API integration streamline processes for those running teams or businesses.

4. Built-In Crypto Options

It isn’t surprising that many digital nomads are already deep into crypto. Whether it’s for investment, faster transactions, or avoiding traditional finance red tape, crypto is becoming essential.

Since 2016, Black Banx has allowed users to send, receive, and convert crypto (like BTC and ETH) within their accounts. That integration saves users from having to manage separate crypto wallets, and adds another layer of flexibility to their financial toolkit.

5. Secure Transactions

Remote workers often log in to work from cafés, coworking spaces, and airports, to name a few. Of course, this flexibility of being able to work almost anywhere should never come at the cost of security. Borderless banks like Black Banx use end-to-end encryption, AI fraud detection, and two-factor authentication to keep accounts safe from risky elements.

Financial Freedom, Not Just Convenience

Perhaps the most overlooked benefit of borderless banking is the freedom it provides. Not just to access money, but to fully participate in the global economy. For millions of professionals in underbanked regions like Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, borderless banking has become a gateway to financial inclusion and a way to take on opportunities that typically wouldn’t be available to them if not remote.

By removing barriers to entry, platforms like Black Banx empower underserved individuals to both take control of their finances and increase their earning power by working with companies from higher paying markets. This democratization of finance isn’t just good for individuals, it’s good for the global economy as a whole.

As Black Banx CEO Michael Gastauer put it: “Our multi-currency solutions enable businesses to tap into global talent without worrying about payment complexities. We make cross-border transactions as seamless as local ones.”

The Road Ahead

By 2030, the number of digital nomads worldwide is expected to soar past 60 million, according to the Forbes Technology Council. That means tens of millions of workers will be navigating foreign currencies, time zones, and financial systems—all while expecting the same seamless experience they’d get at home.

Indeed, remote professionals aren’t just looking for places to work—they’re looking for systems that work for them. In a lifestyle built on flexibility, traditional banking is proving too rigid, too slow, and too expensive.

Borderless banking services like those offered by the likes of Black Banx, on the other hand, offer exactly what today’s global workforce needs: instant access, multi-currency support, real-time payments, crypto integration, and enterprise-level security—all in a streamlined experience.