7 Traits You Need to Be a
Highly Effective Leader
Leadership is not a position or a title, it's all about action and
leading by example.
Leadership is not
something we're born with--it's a set of skills we learn. Some specific skills
and traits seem to be especially important to successful leaders, who carry
them regardless of the company, team or organization they're leading.
Here are seven of the top
traits that make some leaders more effective than others:
1. They promote a compelling vision.
Every leadership
success always starts with a vision, and the most successful leaders know how
to create a clear, distinctive compelling vision that connects to the strategic
plans of the company. A vision reduces uncertainty and provides focus. Truly
effective leaders have the ability to express the vision and use it to inspire
others. This trait alone can sometimes differentiate a good leader from great
leader.
2. They treat others the way they want to be treated.
When it comes to leading
people, the golden rule is among the most important principles. Your skills and
experience might land you in a leadership position but they're not what is
going to make you a great effective leader. An inner awareness of who you are,
coupled with a desire to treat others well, is a powerful thing. Leaders who
embrace the golden rule are able to direct, guide and inspire those around
them.
3. They admit their mistakes.
Too often, leaders are
expected to always have the answers and always be right--but what they should be
really held responsible for is being responsible and accountable. Even the
greatest leaders have made mistakes, and the most effective ones are the those
who will own up to them them--because they know their mistakes have taught them
invaluable lessons, and they've come to see them as opportunities to learn.
Transparency allows them to share their their mistakes--and the lessons they
carried.
4. They make themselves part of the action.
Great leadership is not
setting yourself apart from others--it's about taking action, building
relationships, developing others and making decisions. At the end of the day,
only action produces results. It takes an effective leader to lead others into
the action that will produce the outcome.
5. They are great communicators.
If you examine our
world's greatest leaders you will find that they were exceptional
communicators. They knew that it's not the messenger who is important but the
the message, and everything they communicate has to do with meeting the needs
and expectations of those around them. An exceptional leader understands that
they need to be aware of not only of the situation but also the context . They
have to know what is going on around them, adjust accordingly, and express themselves
with great care.
6. They know how to delegate.
When we think of
leadership, we probably think of courage, resiliency, boldness and
determination--not something as everyday as delegation. But the ability to
wisely and effectively delegate is a quality that is extremely important when
it comes to leadership skills, and it's crucial to a leader's success. Whether
you're a manager at work, owner of your own business, or simply working on a
business venture, effective delegation is one of the keys to effective
leadership. A leader is are capable to do their job, which in turn it allows
the leader to do theirs. Anyone who insists on doing everything on their own is
failing to lead.
7. They make others feel important.
Effective leaders pay
attention to their people and let them know how important they are by genuinely
caring about helping them succeed. They're comfortable enough in their own skin
to take the focus off themselves and shine the spotlight on others, and they
know that making people feel important is especially important to successful
leadership. Set a personal goal to make others feel important--if for no other
reason, then because it's the right thing to do.
BY LOLLY DASKAL
http://www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/7-traits-you-need-to-be-a-highly-effective-leader.html
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