Everybody defines leadership
differently but I really like the way John C Maxwell defines leadership, “A
leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” Irrespective
of how you define a leader, he or she can prove to be a difference maker
between success and failure. A good leader has a futuristic vision and knows
how to turn his ideas into real-world success stories. In this article, we take
an in-depth look at some of the important leadership qualities that separate
good leaders from a bad one.
1. Honesty and Integrity
The 34th President of United States,
Dwight.D.Eisenhower once said, “The supreme quality of leadership is
unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter
whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an
office.” Honesty and integrity are two important ingredients which make a good
leader. How can you expect your followers to be honest when you lack these
qualities yourself? Leaders succeed when they stick to their values and core
beliefs and without ethics, this will not be possible.
2. Confidence
To be an effective leader, you should
be confident enough to ensure that other follow your commands. If you are
unsure about your own decisions and qualities, then your subordinates will
never follow you. As a leader, you have to be oozing with confidence, show some
swagger and assertiveness to gain the respect of your subordinates. This does
not mean that you should be overconfident, but you should at least reflect the
degree of confidence required to ensure that your followers trust you as a
leader.
3. Inspire Others
Probably the most difficult job for a
leader is to persuade others to follow. It can only be possible if you inspire
your followers by setting a good example. When the going gets tough, they look
up to you and see how you react to the situation. If you handle it well, they
will follow you. As a leader, should think positive and this positive approach
should be visible through your actions. Stay calm under pressure and keep the
motivation level up. As John Quincy Adams puts it, “If your actions inspire
others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
If you are successful in inspiring your subordinates, you can easily overcome
any current and future challenge easily.
4. Commitment and Passion
Your teams look up to you and if you
want them to give them their all, you will have to be passionate about it too.
When your teammates see you getting your hands dirty, they will also give their
best shot. It will also help you to gain the respect of your subordinates and
infuse new energy in your team members, which helps them to perform better. If
they feel that you are not fully committed or lacks passion, then it would be
an uphill task for the leader to motivate your followers to achieve the goal.
5. Good Communicator
Good Communicator - TaskQue BlogUntil
you clearly communicate your vision to your team and tell them the strategy to
achieve the goal, it will be very difficult for you to get the results you
want. Simply put, if you are unable to communicate your message effectively to
your team, you can never be a good leader. A good communicator can be a good
leader. Words have the power to motivate people and make them do the
unthinkable. If you use them effectively, you can also achieve better results.
6. Decision-Making
Capabilities
Apart from having a futuristic
vision, a leader should have the ability to take the right decision at the
right time. Decisions taken by leaders have a profound impact on masses. A
leader should think long and hard before taking a decision but once the
decision is taken, stand by it. Although, most leaders take decisions on their
own, but it is highly recommended that you consult key stakeholders before
taking a decision. After all, they are the ones who will benefit or suffer from
your decisions.
7. Accountability
When it comes to accountability, you
need to follow the approach highlighted by Arnold H Glasow when he said, “A
good leader takes little more than his share of the blame and little less than
his share of the credit.” Make sure that every one of your subordinates is
accountable for what they are doing. If they do well, give them a pat on the
back but if they struggle, make them realize their mistakes and work together
to improve. Holding them accountable for their actions will create a sense of
responsibility among your subordinates and they will go about the business more
seriously.
8. Delegation and
Empowerment
Delegation and Empowerment - TaskQue
BlogYou cannot do everything, right. It is important for a leader to focus on
key responsibilities while leaving the rest to others. By that, I mean
empowering your followers and delegating tasks to them. If you continue to
micromanage your subordinates, it will develop a lack of trust and more
importantly, you will not be able to focus on important matters, as you should
be. Delegate tasks to your subordinates and see how they perform. Provide them
with all the resources and support they need to achieve the objective and give
them a chance to bear the responsibility.
9. Creativity and
Innovation
What separates a leader from a
follower? Steve Jobs, the greatest visionary of our time answers this question
this way, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” In order
to get ahead in today’s fast-paced world, a leader must be creative and
innovative at the same time. Creative thinking and constant innovation is what
makes you and your team stand out from the crowd. Think out of the box to come
up with unique ideas and turn those ideas and goals into reality.
10. Empathy
Last but certainly not the least, is
empathy. Leaders should develop empathy with their followers. Unfortunately,
most leaders follow a dictatorial style and neglect empathy altogether. Due to
this, they fail to make a closer connection with their followers. Understanding
the problems of your followers and feeling their pain is the first step to
become an effective leader. Even that is not enough until you work hard and
provide your followers with the suitable solution to their problems.
Conclusion
To become a good leader, you must
have all these qualities but if you lack some of these qualities, then you
might struggle to make the mark in the world of leadership. You will have to
set a good example for others to follow. That is where your commitment,
passion, empathy, honesty and integrity come into play. Good communication
skills and decision-making capabilities also play a vital role in success and
failure of a leader. Lastly, innovation and creative thinking, as well as the
futuristic vision, are a couple of key traits which make a leader stand out.
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