Author: wakinggiants23

There are numerous studies showcasing the importance of a leader when it comes to measuring the effectiveness of an organisation. That is to say, in the position of a leader, you have an impactful role not only in the successful outcome of the organisation but also in influencing the people you work with. On that account, what are some essential leadership qualities one should have in this position?

Truth be told, leadership comes with numerous challenges and rewards. Although this may seem like a contradiction in terms, being a leader provides the opportunity of having a big influence and playing an important role. On the other hand, one’s involvement as a leader can make the distinction between success and failure.

With that in mind, let’s focus on the top leadership qualities one should have in the position of a leader.

1. Self-motivation

We hear a lot about motivation these days. Of course, it is important to be self-motivated regardless of the position you have in an organisation or firm. Still, when you are a leader, self-motivation is even more important. Leadership comes with many challenges and difficulties, and without self-motivation, you might get stuck at some point. You might also get discouraged in the face of difficulties if you lack the power to motivate yourself.

2. Empathy

We also think that empathy is another important quality any leader should possess. When you have an empathic approach and perception, the other people around you are more likely to collaborate with you and do that with an open mind and a positive attitude. When you have an empathic relationship with the people you work with, you can make a closer connection with them. Empathy means trying to understand the problems your employees go through – you try to put yourself in their position and act proactively afterward.

3. Good Communicator

Getting specific results can be difficult, if not impossible without good communication skills. In fact, accomplishing specific purposes is always challenging, but when the communication between the leader and the employees is deficient, then the likelihood of success is notably diminished. In addition to that, words are more powerful than you might think, as they can motivate people and propel them forward – when used correctly!

4. Accountability

When it comes to leadership qualities, accountability is high on our list. Without a doubt, this quality is paramount, as most leaders expect accountability from their employees, partners, and so on and so forth. If you approach accountability the right way, you can actually promote confidence and inspire your employees in this view.

5. Optimism

Why is it so important to be an optimist as a leader? Your attitude can really make the world of a difference in the outcome of a project. When you have a negative approach, you also have the tendency to communicate with a negative tone, which can have detrimental consequences. On the other hand, positivity and optimism are contagious. Concurrently, when you approach a challenging situation with a positive, optimistic mind, the chance of solving it efficiently is much higher.

6. Passion

When discussing leadership qualities, it’s mandatory to include passion – which is somehow connected with motivation. Simply put, when you’re passionate about something, it becomes much easier to work for that goal. Concurrently, through passion, you are willing to give what it takes to make things work. And this can be very inspiring for your subordinates and co-workers.

7. Integrity

Integrity is another piece of the puzzle that shouldn’t be missing. This is an important leadership quality for a leader in a company, in an organisation, in a team, a sports team – you get the picture. When you showcase integrity and you embrace behaviour that indicates you have specific values and beliefs, you display a positive example that is worth following.

8. Confidence

The effectiveness of leadership is imminently associated with confidence. When you are unsure regarding your decisions or your capabilities as a leader or professional in your domain, then the odds are that your subordinates will doubt you. This will make it difficult for them to respect you and your decisions. That isn’t to say you should be overconfident, as this will communicate the wrong message as well.

9. Humour

Did it ever occur to you that a leader should have a sense of humour? It seems that funny leaders are actually better leaders. Why is that? What is the connection between the two? Basically, humour is a valuable tool that enables you to engage with your co-workers and subordinates on a more personal level, thus building a deeper bond. Humour also diminishes the pressure and stress associated with work – laughing releases oxytocin, which promotes social bonding and increases trust.

10. Loyalty

Usually, when it comes to loyalty, most people attribute this quality to employees. However, they overlook the fact that this is one of the most important leadership qualities one should possess. In essence, loyalty is a two-way street. If you aren’t willing to stay loyal to your workers, how do you expect them to do this for you? It’s as simple as that.

11. Discipline

A disciplined leader is a person that has a high level of self-control, which is crucial when it comes to attaining great success. This applies not only in the business world but also on a personal level. Discipline is also linked with accomplishing inner calm, which is just as important when you are a leader and you have to display a positive example for others.

12. Maturity

Many people mistake maturity for old age – but this is not accurate. That is to say, there are many old people who lack maturity, meaning that age is no guarantee in this respect. There are younger men out there who are more mature and more put-together than their older co-workers. And that’s because they have dealt with difficult situations and they did that successfully, with a positive outcome. And this is usually where maturity gets to shine – when you are faced with challenges and you need to act proactively as fast as possible.

13. Managerial Competence

There are numerous organisations and businesses out there that want to create leaders out of people that are merely competent at what they do. And while this may work in some scenarios, it is not a fail-proof strategy. That’s because managerial competence is one of the most significant leadership qualities, which many times may be overlooked. It is about understanding the goals and processes in a company or organisation and knowing how to act based on these.

14. Charisma

It’s also worth noting that most people are more inclined to follow a leader if they like that person. It’s just the way it works – which is what makes charisma an important trait for a leader. Charisma is also connected with approachability, a friendly and positive attitude, among other things.

15. Humility

Why should a leader be humble? Or better said, how can a leader be humble since we’ve pointed out that a leader should be confident? Isn’t this a contradiction? Not so much since confidence isn’t synonymous with pride. On the other hand, humility is an important trait as it means you are real, and this also makes your connection and relationship with your subordinates real. That is to say, humility means that you are concerned with each member of the team, not only with yourself and with your responsibilities. This makes you more relatable to others.

16. Resilience

A leader’s capabilities will be tested in difficult, challenging times, not only in good times. When things get hard, that is when your capabilities are tested. That is to say, instead of concentrating on the problem and the challenge, you should focus on a solution that will make things better. Essentially, resilience is a key quality that comes with time and experience in leadership.

17. Cooperation

And finally, cooperation is another essential trait that each leader should possess. Even the most capable person cannot accomplish everything on his/her own. You need people to reach your goals you need to depend on your team in order to generate success in an organisation. And you have to acknowledge this as a leader. That is to say, a leader should always be willing to cooperate and showcase his/her interest in cooperating with people.

Servant leadership is a leadership style in which the goal of the leader is to serve those around them. It is different from the traditional leadership style where the leader’s main focus is profits and growth.

With differing needs in the workplace, a “one leader to rule all’ does not meet the need of the future workforce who are looking to be “part” of something not just a cog in a wheel.

Traditional leadership depends on the use of perceived power and hierarchy, whereas servant leadership puts your focus firmly on what’s best for the people that work alongside you.

No longer should we be using terms like human resources or human capital. But see those that we serve as part of the journey towards purposeful outcomes and success. If we create people-driven businesses through servant leadership by very definition, we create companies that serve and generate better outcomes.

The accountants no longer define success through numbers, but our people through continuous growth and development, nurturing, and open communication will actually drive successful businesses.

As a leader it requires a shift in mindset and to serve first, you benefit as well as your employees in that your employees experience endless personal growth, while the business naturally grows and evolves through increased engagement and a sense of purpose.

Servant leadership is driven by a key set of skills and mindset adopted by those who lead. It isn’t a case of just being a bit nicer and saying yes to every demand, but an awareness that you are dealing with people and their most basic needs allows you to understand where they stand and where their passions lie.

As a leader, it’s dangerous to expect your team to care as much as you do about your business, but that doesn’t mean they can’t care enough to make a huge difference. Your job as a leader is to bring the best out of people and put them in a position to succeed in both their work and personal lives.

There are a few things that you need to have in your leadership toolbox to develop your servant leadership style:

1. Look at your motivators – are you passionate about developing talent?
2. Are you self-aware and do you expect the standards of yourself as the same as those that work alongside you?
3. Be humble. You are not supposed to know everything.
4. Do what you say you are going to do.
5. Focus on results but share why you are trying to achieve them.
6. Always be looking ahead for bumps in the road to protect your team.
7. Listen to hear not to respond.
8. Ask for help and praise those who know better.
9. Coach all day every day but set expectations.
10. Be vulnerable but not weak. Show you are a person too but also lead with conviction to provide confidence.

Being a servant leader does not mean you are a slave to your team’s needs; in fact, it’s the total opposite. It is being aware of them and guiding them, which creates growth and positive outcomes for all parties.

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There’s an infinite list of different tools leaders must possess in their toolbox, but in essence, the most valuable tool you have is yourself, your traits, and your leadership style as you lead by example.

Why are you the most important tool?

To understand this, let’s strip everything back to the core meaning of “leadership”. Leadership, as described in a Forbes article, is “a process of social influence, which maximizes the efforts of others, towards the achievement of a goal.” This allows us to understand why some leaders who, even though they aren’t in a position of authority, can attract followers – this stems from social influence. It also emphasizes that as leaders, you don’t just ask your team to perform or get the job done. Instead, you inspire them to be at their best and maximize their efforts to attain the goal.

Social influence is best achieved when others see it in action from you and not by telling them how it is done.

Often when I observe kids, I’ll often identify their communication and actions with each other modelled of their parents. A professional wrestler, Paul Levesque, more popularly known as Triple H, once shared, “Kids don’t do what you say. They do what they see. How you live your life is their example.”

Although the catchphrase ‘lead by example’ is very cliché, it is a very real and proven concept and so we have identified concrete steps you can take as a leader, as part of your leadership toolbox.

Most Important Tool in a Leadership Toolbox

1. Demonstrate why is it important to always do your best
2. Exhibit consistency in your daily affairs
3. Show your eagerness to listen and improve
4. Let your team know that you have their back
5. Challenge yourself and your team members to get better

1. Demonstrate why is it important to always do your best

Whether it’s an annual event, a new project, or an informal survey to jump-start your company initiatives, you must show others that you are doing your best in whatever you put your efforts into.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s a mammoth role that puts you in the spotlight or a supporting role from backstage. What is essential is honing your craft through regular practice and stretching your abilities.

As they say, ‘nothing is too difficult as long as you put your mind to it.’ When your team members see your relentless drive and performing to the best of your abilities, they’ll be inspired (or embarrassed) not to follow in your footsteps.

Show them how giving your all not only contributes to your team goals but also how it enables the growth of an individual. They will notice the changes if you start to set an example.

2. Exhibit consistency in your daily affairs

Being of good character is equally as important as having great skills. You should try and consistently surround yourself with people who are not only valuable to you and your team for their expertise, but also for the values they hold and the moral compass.

It is not about who you are based on your position. Rather, it’s who you are and what you do when no one is watching. A UCLA head basketball coach for 27 seasons, John Wooden, believed that above all the glamour, expertise, or popularity, you must be a man or woman of good character.

He was considerate to pick up anything he found on the floor as he made his way to the locker room. Whether it’s discarded rubbish or a towel, he never hesitated to bend down and pick it up. His players saw him do this and began copying his actions. This made the cleaners happy to a point where they even sent ‘thank-you’ notes to the head coach.

Just as hard skills can be learned, so can respect and consideration for others. Sometimes, it’s not all about winning in just the financial front, it’s also building better people by the way of kind gestures, empathy towards others, and an authentic desire to help others grow, even if they are not part of your team.

3. Show your eagerness to listen and improve

Through active listening to how others perceive you as a leader, you will recognize the aspects you need to improve to lead your team. Don’t look for or encourage only positive feedback – you will learn more about yourself and your leadership style from constructive criticism. Although criticism hurts, try to listen to what your team says to help you grow as a leader.

Also, as a leader, your eagerness to ask questions within your team can lead you to more innovative ideas as there is potential for your awareness to be opened to things you may have previously overlooked.

Along the same lines, when your team members ask you, be ready to give them honest and authentic feedback on your assessment of their performance. Be also open as well to invite others to share their perspectives when you are unsure of something.

When you create a culture of listening, employees become more open to collaboration, feedback, and improvement.

4. Let your team know that you have their back

In our pursuit to attain a goal, we struggle in the most unexpected and various ways. However, what’s rewarding during these times is knowing that your leader has your back.

Even though you, as their leader, you yourself may not always be performing mentally or spiritually at 100%, providing consistent support to your team members boosts their morale to stay focused. Being one with your team is also achieved by doing things you haven’t done before. Even if it’s not your job or you are dealing with other responsibilities that only you can fulfill. You must be prepared to lend a hand and guide your team.

Your team members will appreciate your care, and they will mirror it by extending help to others as well.

Related: 15 Insights To Assess Leadership Effectiveness in Businesses

5. Challenge yourself and your team members to get better

Your openness to others’ feedback and the honest rating you give yourself as a leader will create a better culture built on trust, honesty, and open communication. Being willing to recognize what’s best for the company may sometimes cause initial discomfort but is a far better approach than to let issues fester and become much larger problems further down the track.

Often, we discover our capabilities when we step out of our comfort zone. Try to encourage your team (and yourself) to not always take the easy way out of a problem just because it’s easy – ask yourself “is this the best approach for my team, myself, and the business?”. Try and show your team what can be achieved overcoming obstacles. When you challenge yourself, you allow room for improvement and innovation, and this transfers through to your team.

The best leaders lead by example. It is undoubtedly the most essential and powerful tool in your leadership toolbox as it can inspire your team members to always try performing at their best.

References:

Geier, David. (2019, November 19). The Best Leaders Lead by Example. Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/swlh/the-best-leaders-lead-by-example-88ee68186aae

Hall, John. (2017, March 5). The Most Powerful Leadership Tool You Have: Your Own Example. Forbes, Inc. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhall/2017/03/05/the-most-powerful-leadership-tool-you-have-your-own-example/?sh=5ace5c79edc5

Johnston, Kevin. (n.d.). Group Leader Tools. Chron. Retrieved November 24, 2021, from https://smallbusiness.chron.com/characteristics-task-force-workgroups-32076.html

Kruse, Kevin. (2013, April 9). What is leadership?. Forbes, Inc. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2013/04/09/what-is-leadership/?sh=7f1fbda65b90

Maxwell, John. (2020, July 22). What’s in Your Toolbox? John C. Maxwell. Retrieved from https://www.johnmaxwell.com/blog/whats-in-your-toolbox/