The Top 10 Leadership Qualities
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 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.
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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