10 Traits that make a great leader
Introduction
Leadership can be
defined as one's ability to get others to willingly follow. Every organization
needs leaders at every level. Leaders can be found and nurtured if you look for
the following character traits.
A leader with vision has a clear, vivid picture of where to go, as
well as a firm grasp on what success looks like and how to achieve it. But it's
not enough to have a vision; leaders must also share it and act upon it. Jack
Welch, former chairman and CEO of General Electric Co., said, "Good business
leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision and
relentlessly drive it to completion."
A leader must be able
to communicate his or her vision in terms that cause followers to buy into it.
He or she must communicate clearly and passionately, as passion is contagious.
A good leader must
have the discipline to work toward his or her vision single-mindedly, as well
as to direct his or her actions and those of the team toward the goal. Action
is the mark of a leader. A leader does not suffer "analysis
paralysis" but is always doing something in pursuit of the vision,
inspiring others to do the same.
Traits
Integrity is the integration of outward actions and
inner values. A person of integrity is the same on the outside and on the inside.
Such an individual can be trusted because he or she never veers from inner
values, even when it might be expeditious to do so. A leader must have the
trust of followers and therefore must display integrity.
Honest dealings,
predictable reactions, well-controlled emotions, and an absence of tantrums and
harsh outbursts are all signs of integrity. A leader who is centered in
integrity will be more approachable by followers.
Dedication means spending whatever time or energy is
necessary to accomplish the task at hand. A leader inspires dedication by
example, doing whatever it takes to complete the next step toward the vision.
By setting an excellent example, leaders can show followers that there are no
nine-to-five jobs on the team, only opportunities to achieve something great.
Magnanimity means giving credit where it is due. A
magnanimous leader ensures that credit for successes is spread as widely as
possible throughout the company. Conversely, a good leader takes personal
responsibility for failures. This sort of reverse magnanimity helps other
people feel good about themselves and draws the team closer together. To spread
the fame and take the blame is a hallmark of effective leadership.
Leaders with humility recognize that they are no better or worse
than other members of the team. A humble leader is not self-effacing but rather
tries to elevate everyone. Leaders with humility also understand that their
status does not make them a god. Mahatma Gandhi is a role model for Indian
leaders, and he pursued a "follower-centric" leadership role.
Openness
means being able to
listen to new ideas, even if they do not conform to the usual way of thinking.
Good leaders are able to suspend judgment while listening to others' ideas, as
well as accept new ways of doing things that someone else thought of. Openness
builds mutual respect and trust between leaders and followers, and it also
keeps the team well supplied with new ideas that can further its vision.
Creativity is the ability to think differently, to get
outside of the box that constrains solutions. Creativity gives leaders the
ability to see things that others have not seen and thus lead followers in new
directions. The most important question that a leader can ask is, "What if
… ?" Possibly the worst thing a leader can say is, "I know this is a
dumb question ... "
Fairness means dealing with others consistently and
justly. A leader must check all the facts and hear everyone out before passing
judgment. He or she must avoid leaping to conclusions based on incomplete
evidence. When people feel they that are being treated fairly, they reward a
leader with loyalty and dedication.
Assertiveness is not the same as aggressiveness. Rather, it
is the ability to clearly state what one expects so that there will be no misunderstandings.
A leader must be assertive to get the desired results. Along with assertiveness
comes the responsibility to clearly understand what followers expect from their
leader.
Many leaders have
difficulty striking the right amount of assertiveness, according to a study in
the February 2007 issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,
published by the APA (American Psychological Association). It seems that being underassertive
or overassertive may be the most common weakness among aspiring leaders.
A sense of humor is vital to relieve tension and boredom, as
well as to defuse hostility. Effective leaders know how to use humor to
energize followers. Humor is a form of power that provides some control over
the work environment. And simply put, humor fosters good camaraderie.
Intrinsic traits such
as intelligence, good looks, height and so on are not necessary to become a
leader. Anyone can cultivate the proper leadership traits.
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