What is
leadership?
Every one of us
is a leader in our own right. We all lead at some point in our life. We serve
as leaders in our jobs, in our communities, and in our families. For many,
being a leader means having the power to control others. Those who take this
view eventually find that the more they try to control people, the less
influence they have over them. For others, leadership means being in a position
of authority. True leadership is not about superiority, position, or prestige.
It’s about revealing and releasing the potential of those around you. Leadership
is not about the power of one, but facilitating the greatness of many. Hence
true leadership cannot be awarded, appointed, or assigned. It comes only from
influence, and that cannot be mandated. It must be earned. I have been in
positions of leadership since 20plus years, some lessons I learned the hard
way, through trial and error followed by the humility that comes from
overcoming those mistakes. Other lessons I learned through observing those I
esteemed to be great leaders whose example I sought to follow. Through it all I
found several traits that I believe are necessary for someone to be what I
consider a true leader: Here are some of their most important characteristics:
1. Purpose and Vision
Great leaders
have Vision and Purpose … They can see into the future. The greatest
leaders of our time could articulate a vision so clear it seemed as though it
had already come to pass. Good leaders discover a purpose and create a vision,
articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it
to completion. They have a clear, exciting plan of where they are going and
what they are trying to accomplish and are excellent at strategic planning.
The purpose and
vision of a true leader shall be to elevate mankind’s trust, and to fill the
world with righteousness. Great leaders focus on the big picture and can
describe that picture to their colleagues, subordinates, business partners, and
customers. They understand the long-term effects of the tasks that need to be
completed today, the desired outcomes of those tasks, and how to communicate
the immediate needs of the business in terms of their future vision. Generally,
very few people know what they want, much less how to get there, so they will
gravitate towards those who appear to have a clear picture in mind--good
clarity leads to great achievement.
Leaders have purpose for their actions and
what they influence. Leaders seek what is best for the group and not what is
best for the individual. Leaders are inherently selfless and hardworking. They
are driven by their conviction and purpose and resonates the passion in their
vision statements. I believe that a great leader knows the “why” behind
the “what” that they are doing. They also have the ability to help other people
catch the vision of the “why” so they can accomplish the “what”. That’s a lot
of “why’s” and “what’s”! I’ve always been inspired when I’m around people who
have conviction and clarity in purpose. When the cause is just and you have a
leader who can share the vision of the cause, special things happen.
In our secular
society, we tend to think of a leader as a person who is well-connected, who is
powerful or charismatic or wealthy. We judge our leaders by what
they have. But a true leader should be judged by what he
has not — ego, arrogance, and self-interest. A true leader sees
his work as selfless service toward a higher purpose. Leadership is action. The
vision is the articulation of the action to get to where the group needs to go.
The vision should be well defined and effectively communicated. Leadership
success always starts with vision. Henry Ford dreamed of a car families could
afford. Steve Jobs dreamed of an easy-to-use computer that would unleash
creativity. Nelson Mandela dreamed of an integrated, prosperous South Africa.
2 Principles and
Values
Leaders are
defined by their inner strengths and convictions, not the outer portrayal of
who they are. Your character will determine your level of leadership and your
legacy. Living on principle is one essential that will help you lead well and
finish well. There are three elements of being a principled leader:
decisiveness, dedication, determination, discipline, sincerity, humility, and
integrity.
Want to know if
you possess these three valuable principles? Start searching your speech for
phrases like, “I’m sorry,” “thank you” and “I trust you.” Listen for patterns
of “we” and “us” versus “I” and “my.”
Practice the art
of these principles and establish an accountability system to help keep you
grounded. No one likes a leader with a big head. It’s been said that following
is easy, but leading is difficult. That is no doubt true.
The value of
integrity as a foundational leadership virtue is inestimable. When you say what
you mean and mean what you say, people will trust you implicitly and generally
respond in kind. As a leader, it’s important to raise the bar high by
personally modelling a standard of truthfulness that demonstrates your deepest
morals and values mirror your organizations mission.
3.Persistence
and Passion
First, leaders are
extremely persistent people. They have absolute confidence and belief in
themselves and they never let rejections or any obstacles for that matter slow
them down. If you research any of their stories you will see that this is a
trait they unilaterally all share. Leaders believe that what they do is
important and purposeful. The belief is the conviction that drives the leader’s
Persistence and Passion. The conviction is communicated in the vision and
nearly every statement of the leader. There's nothing more inspirational than
seeing someone who cares about what they do--the best leaders exhibit boundless
energy and passion for what they do.
People want to
work with leaders who truly care about the work they’re doing and
wholeheartedly believe they are making a positive difference in the world. You
must lead by example and obtain management skills that inspire others to join
you in building a great company. Entrepreneurs who exemplify this vision in
their day-to-day work lives convey that excitement to those with whom they
work, who in turn draw energy from their commitment. Your job is to maintain a
happy work environment and continue leading your team with passion and
enthusiasm
.
Good leaders
have a passion for the work they do and feel it is important. Once they have
made up their mind, they don't hesitate to commit--it's all hands on deck. They
show great consistency with their decisions, rarely backing out or changing
their minds unless it is absolutely necessary. Being Persistence shows
commitment, a quality very high in demand for a great leader. Sharing that
passion and enthusiasm with followers can help you motivate your people to
become more productive. Praising your people when they do a good job can be a
natural extension of passion. If you dream of becoming a true leader, then
you’ve got to find what you love to do. If you don’t, you’ll never have the
tenacity and fortitude to stick with it through all the tough times ahead.
4. Professional
Standards and Communication Skills
Good leaders are
also great communicators. Good leaders model and uphold high ethical
business standards and practices at all levels of an organization. They clearly
communicate expectations through policies and procedures that promote ethical
behavior. Good leaders are creative and support continuous growth in themselves
and others and encourage continuous process improvement. Perhaps most important
are the courage to take risks, make difficult decisions and accept
accountability for their actions and those who report to them. Standing at the
front of the parade doesn't make someone a leader. That only happens if others
follow behind, and most people don't want to follow someone unless they're sure
the leader knows the way.
Strong leaders
know how to communicate effectively with staff at both higher and lower levels
in the company. Understanding how to clearly explain tasks and projects to
staff while communicating the importance of your department’s work to
administrators is a crucial skill that takes practice. Good communicators keep
staff informed when changes or updates to projects occur, are readily available
to staff and hold regular meetings to ensure that all team members are aware of
the status of projects.
Strong leaders
use listening, speaking and writing skills and keep communication open, honest
and genuine at all levels of the organization. They communicate a mission,
vision and values and share information often, openly, clearly and with
confidence and passion. Their messages convey integrity and honesty, and they consistently
convey an attitude of dignity and respect for all individuals, instilling trust
among their followers in their ability to lead with the best interests of the
individual in mind. They inspire a spirit of teamwork and collaboration and
communicate the importance of diversity, innovation and shared outcomes.
"Communication
is the real work of leadership,ocumented the importance of persuasion in his
1992 bookBeyond the Hype: Rediscovering the Essence of Management. Nohria
believes effective leaders are masters of the classical elements of rhetoric,
as outlined by Aristotle centuries ago. "You can reach people through
logos or logic, by appealing to their sense of what is rational," he
explains. "You can use pathos, appealing to their emotions, or you can
make an argument based on their sense of values or ethos." Great leaders,
he notes, "spend the bulk of their time communicating, and they know how
to employ all three of Aristotle's rhetorical elements."
Never passing
the buck: If you are -- or want to be -- a leader, you must always remember
that there is no passing the buck. When final decisions have to be made, they
must be made with confidence, clarity, and decisiveness. Never passing the
buck: If you are -- or want to be -- a leader, you must always remember that
there is no passing the buck. When final decisions have to be made, they must
be made with confidence, clarity, and decisiveness.
Leadership is
the capacity to influence and inspire others motivated by a vision, generated
by a passion, produced by a belief and created by a purpose.
5. Positive
Attitude and Creativity
You want to keep
your team motivated towards the continued success of the group and keep the
energy levels up. Whether that means providing motivation, advice, or even just
an occasional celebration in the office, remember that everyone on your team is
a person. Keep the office mood a fine balance between productivity and liveliness.
Some decisions
will not always be so clear-cut. You may be forced at times to deviate from your
set course and make an on the fly decision. This is where your creativity will
prove to be vital. It is during these critical situations that your team will
look to you for guidance and you may be forced to make a quick decision. As a
leader, its important to learn to think outside the box and to choose which of
two bad choices is the best option. Don’t immediately choose the first or
easiest possibility; sometimes its best to give these issues some thought, and
even turn to your team for guidance. By utilizing all possible options before
making a rash decision, you can typically reach the end conclusion you were
aiming for.
6. People skills
and Strategic Thinking
To be an
effective leader, you need a combination of people skills and Strategic
Thinking. Good leaders understand and stay focused on where an organization is
headed and are committed to its long-term success and the success of everyone
involved. Good leaders align their activities to a clearly defined mission and
vision and make strategic decisions based on sound data and proven practices.
They understand the culture and demographics of an organization and external
influences -- such as politics, economics, legislation, the marketplace and the
community -- and their potential impact on
Good leaders are happy
to see others thrive, they feel they are part of that success, and that’s why
they work to help them grow and develop. They worry about the people around
them and want the best for them because that has an effect on the
team. No leader is born a leader, and passion for the people does not need to
be genuine either. But a good leader can work with soft skills to
acquire this trait, essential to a successful leadership.
Good leaders
always tend to look ahead and look for the next step. They are never satisfied
with the “status quo” of things and are constantly trying to improve the world
around them. They leave work each day while thinking what can be done even
better tomorrow. Take Elon Musk as an example -- today we have PayPal, SpaceX
and Tesla Motors all because he tried to make online payments easier,
space exploration cheaper, space ships reusable and driving more
environmentally friendly and safer. Smarts may not be everything, but I’ve
never known a successful leader who lacked intelligence, critical-thinking
skills, and a genuine thirst for knowledge.
Great leaders
are outstanding at Strategic planning. It’s another one of the more
important leadership strengths. They have the ability to look ahead, to
anticipate with some accuracy where the industry and the markets are going.
Leaders have the
ability to anticipate trends, well in advance of their competitors. They
continually ask, “Based on what is happening today, where is the market
going? Where is it likely to be in three months, six months, one year, and two
years?” They do this through thoughtful strategic planning.
Because of
increasing competitiveness, only the leaders and organizations that can
accurately anticipate future markets can possibly survive. Only leaders with
foresight can gain the “first mover advantage.”
Commitment to
people
Good leaders
understand that success isn’t possible without the help of their employees.
Providing ample training opportunities for your staff and expressing your
confidence in their work lets them know that you are invested in them. Strong
managers avoid the urge to perform every part of a project themselves, but
allow employees to make decisions, prioritize tasks and plan projects. Leaders
who are committed to their teams try to ensure that all employees are treated
equally and that preferential treatment is not given to a particular employee
or employees.
Team Building
Encouraging
employees to work together, rather than competitively, can result in higher
productivity and improved morale. Encouraging a cooperative atmosphere and
group problem solving will help you ensure that your department completes tasks
on time without personal conflicts. Asking for input from employees regarding
departmental functions and procedures can help them feel that they are an
important part of your team.