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The world today is running at such a fast-pace that those who
cannot cope will surely be left behind. And the best way for
people to cope is to strive to possess this most important
ability that is to lead.
Leadership, in common usage, generally refers to the capacity to
lead others or simply put, the activity of leading. But in
truth, many people who are in leadership positions struggle with
understanding what it is really that makes a great leader.
Several studies suggest that there are certain qualities that
people tend to associate with leadership. These qualities define
the leaders among us. Broadly, there are five key attributes and
these are focus, authenticity, courage, empathy, and timing. And
these five key characteristics of a leader apply across all
settings.
An effective leader keeps focused on the results he wish to
achieve. He provides this ìoutcome focusî by always accentuating
the mission, vision, values and goals of the group. He also
builds the groupís capacity to reach these strategic goals by
emphasizing the need to be flexible, resourceful and innovative.
A veritable leader attracts followers. Authenticity in a leader
allows trust to be built and maintained. Showing who he really
is, his followers know what to expect from him and can rely on
him, come hell or high water.
A leader must project fearlessness in facing challenges. A
leader must stand firm even in the presence of criticisms, but
still having the courage to admit his mistakes.
An effective leader listens emphatically. He welcomes ideas and
inputs from his members. This promotes consensus building within
the team. He creates enough opportunities for open communication
then he capitalizes on the ideas shared within the group but
making sure that he provides recognition for these ideas. Though
he places a high value on dialogue and feedback, he knows when
to take action.
As a leader, he may often find himself with the dilemma of
making or not making a decision. An effective leader, who is
focused, authentic, courageous and emphatic, must also have the
proper timing in making and executing decisions. If he gets the
timing wrong on these critical decisions, all else stands to be
nullified. It is his make or break. He must be able to
prioritize and move with appropriate speed. A great leader uses
time as his ally.
Probing into actual setups, the aforementioned attributes may
translate into the following. A leader must have talent or
specific skills at some task at hand. He must possess
initiative, tied up with a certain degree of charisma that
motivates and stirs people to motion. He has dedication - a
service to a cause with a clear sense of mission. A leader is
results-oriented, optimistic, and is of the belief that he has
the ability to ìmake a differenceî. He should also possess the
ability to encourage people and foster growth in them. He must
be a role model, someone who leads by example. Self-knowledge
and self-awareness are also essential characteristics.
However, it does not necessarily follow that someone having
these qualities may achieve success in leading. He must also
learn to use these exemplary qualities to influence his members
of diverse talents and characters to work together to achieve a
common vision. What follows are some guidelines that may aid
aspiring leaders on how to effectively influence and
subsequently lead people.
Before one may lead, he must first understand the people who he
will be leading. He must be able to see and understand his
subordinatesí situation in their point of view. Try ì
mirroring.î Observe how they act, speak and think. In the long
run, the people you are mirroring will feel more comfortable
with you as if actually seeing themselves in you.
Show genuine politeness. Be friendly. Make your subordinates
feel how willing you are to extend assistance in case they would
need it. This builds mutual trust within the group, which will
promote a stronger team spirit.
Being pleasant and friendly does not always cut it. A leader
must also provide compelling evidence that he can deliver. A
leader must be able to concretize ideas and implement them. A
good reputation is most important, so build one and maintain it.
A good leader inspires others to follow by setting an example. A
leader sets the direction and strives to influence people to
follow that direction. He must be a role model who adopts a
persona that embodies his mission and vision, and is worthy of
imitation.
Avoid doing most of the work. Delegate tasks. Involve and
utilize the most important resources at hand ñ your people. But
be sure to follow through on their progress. Be generous in
praise and recognition. Appreciate all contributions, big and
small.
There are numerous theories on leadership. Different leaders
carry out their roles in a wide variety of styles, depending on
the situation and circumstance. There are also various methods
how leaders motivate and manage their people. But in the end,
leadership is really all about faith, people and purpose. It is
about having a vision, the faith that it can be done and the
drive to enlist others in the pursuit of that purpose.
About the author:
Daegan Smith the owner of
Net MLM Articles and the leader of the fastest growing team
of successful home business enterpernuers on the net. Find out
how we're creating financial freedom all across the globe and
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