Leadership is a hot topic lately. You see all kinds of posts about it on social media and they all talk about how to be a good leader and why some people are not cut out to be leaders.
BusinessDictionary.com defines leadership as the activity of leading a group of people or an organization or the ability to do this.
Leadership involves:
- Establishing a clear vision.
- Sharing that vision with others so that they will follow willingly.
- Providing the information, knowledge, and methods to realize that vision.
- Coordinating and balancing the conflicting interests of all members and stakeholders.
A leader isn’t always the one in charge. It is the person that steps up in times of crisis and is able to think and act creatively in difficult situations.
Leaders come in all shapes and sizes. Children can be leaders; adults can be leaders and sometimes you find leaders that are in positions that aren’t “leadership” positions but they are happy where they are and put their skills to use when needed.
Many leaders have the natural gift. It is something that is inside you. Others have strengthened that muscle over time. Also, not everyone is a leader and that is fine. We need team players and their talents & gifts.
Leaders are special people. They are the ones that we look up to and seek out for guidance. If you are fortunate enough to have a strong leader in your life, seek them out for mentorship. Leaders love to help others and it is fulfilling to them to be able to do so.
Ethical leaders do the right thing, even if it’s inconvenient or unpopular. They aren’t concerned about what people will think of them.
Good leaders can create results by enlisting the help of others. They can turn failing companies into Fortune 500 organizations. They can change company cultures. And most recently, in the last 3 weeks we’ve seen the impact of good leadership as we’ve watched the NCAA women’s and men’s basketball tournaments. How about those teams who messed up our brackets?!?!? Incredible leadership and teamwork displayed! Good leadership is an essential key to success.
What makes a good leader?
Self-Awareness. They know their strengths and weaknesses, as well as when they are working in flow and when they are over worked and need a break.
Self-Direction. They know how to get things done, organize tasks and avoid procrastination. They can generate energy for projects and keep calm in stressful situations. Leaders make decisions quickly, when necessary, but also consider all options on the table.
Vision. True leaders work towards a goal greater than themselves. This is far more inspiring than working for personal gain.
Ability to Motivate. Leaders don’t lead by telling people what they have to do. People want to help. This happens because they help others as well.
A leader who understands what drives the bottom line is valuable. Yet it’s the leader who can get others to perform at their best that creates winning organizations.
Do you have the qualities of a good leader? Do you see anything you need to improve on? Food for thought…
