Are you a Great Leader?
Every person that you meet will have a different perspective regarding the approach and qualities required to be an effective leader. If you Google the term leadership, you will get hundreds of different definitions, but for me, it is the positive influence of a person over a group of people that can make them do wonders with perseverance and dedication.
A good leader can make others around them strive for better and soar higher. Everybody knows when to call someone a bad leader, but have you wondered what makes somebody a good leader? Here’s my thought,
- Honesty and Integrity -
Honesty is expected from leaders to garner trust and loyalty from the employees and other team members in an organization for reliability and respect. Everyone looks up to the leader and desires to follow them if they can see honest, ethical, and moral behavior in their actions and words.
Integrity might not be an obvious metric to evaluate an employee; however, it certainly is of great significance in an organization. Research shows that integrity might be a blind spot in many organizations, but it should be focused upon while making any important decision.
2. Delegate -
You can’t do everything by yourself, no matter how hard you try, and this is not something to stress on. Delegating means that you are trusting your team members as capable people for completing the task with dedication and responsibility.
A good leader not only passes on a task but also maximizes productivity to improve team performance. This also shows your teammates that you have confidence in their abilities and drives a positive workplace environment.
3. Engage in open communication -
As it is said, “Communication is the key to success”, leadership is no different. Creating an open line of communication allows all your team members to understand your vision and message clearly. Choosing the right expressions and words to use while delivering your message is essential for a leader to motivate people.
Consistent communication will also allow for constructive criticism and open and honest feedback. It also opens channels for your team members to reciprocate to your mission and goals accordingly.
4. Self-awareness and accountability -
If you are self-aware of your strengths and weaknesses, it allows you to build an authentic relationship with all the other people and your work. The better you understand yourself, the better your performance at work is found to be. Embracing yourself and your methods of working allows you to produce effective results.
Also, a good leader knows when to hold others accountable for a mistake and when to take the blame on themselves. They appreciate it when somebody makes efforts and drives results and simultaneously seeks solutions if someone is stuck with a problem. They are not fazed by failures and are ready to take responsibility for any bad outcome.
5. Open to change -
A good leader is always open to new ideas and is adaptable and nimble to change. They accept that change is inevitable and are ready to innovate, explore, and create solutions and ideas. They are always prepared to handle any roadblocks with the determination to find a new path. This makes employees feel free to bring their ideas to the table and produce effective and productive results.
Without a team, there is no leader and, consequently, no leadership. You must remember to empathize, support, and care for all your team members, as they are the ones who form the backbone of your good leadership skills.
Not everyone is born with all the skills required to be a good leader, but a futuristic vision integrated with dedication and hard work makes you a charismatic individual and a great leader.
