Leadership is a complex topic. There are many definitions of leadership, but they all boil down to the same thing: influencing other people to achieve goals.
Also Read: Understanding Management Framework in Business
Leadership has always been a hot topic. In fact, it was even mentioned in the Bible. The book of Proverbs says, “He who leads men into sin will himself be responsible for their sins.” This means that leaders should never encourage bad behavior or allow unethical practices to go unchecked.
So how does one become a great leader? According to research, there are three key components to being a good leader: Clarity, Influence, and Empathy.
Let’s take a look at each of these components and see how they apply to leadership.
How much clarity does a leader need before he or she can effectively manage his/her team? What can a leader do when he/she lacks sufficient understanding of the situation at hand?
Leadership is a complex subject. Leaders must possess some qualities that enable them to motivate their followers, influence decision makers and get things done.
While leadership has many definitions, today’s leaders share three common characteristics:
• Visionary – They see where they want to go and the reasons why.
• Communicator – They communicate clear messages to followers and stakeholders.
• Coach – They guide the activities of their team members towards the vision.
Good leaders keep their teams focused on the same goal. They give clear instructions and follow up on assignments. When delegating responsibilities, they assign specific tasks, deadlines, and deliverables. They avoid vague expectations or ambiguous statements.
In short, a great leader should have strong vision, good communication skills and be able to coach and influence his/her followers.
For a leader to influence their followers, they need to apply the following tips:
1. Show respect for the follower.
Leaders have two jobs: (1) lead; and (2) teach. Leaders should remember that they are leaders first and foremost. When a group of people follow someone, that person is the most valuable asset in the group. To be effective, leaders need to make sure that their followers understand what leadership means to them. They also need to show respect and appreciation for each follower’s ideas.
2. Encourage feedback.
A leader that does not value feedback is a poor leader. Leadership requires listening to others. It means asking for feedback from those who report to you and then acting upon it. A good leader encourages feedback because he or she wants to know how people feel about his or her decisions and actions. If the feedback is positive, great! But if it isn’t, the leader needs to take corrective action immediately.
3. Have a vision.
Being able to articulate a clear vision of where you want to go helps inspire people. You may not always get things right, but having a goal gives focus to everyone else. Without goals, there’s no way to measure success or failure. So, if you’re going to try something new, first figure out what it is that you hope to achieve. Then, work backwards to determine exactly what steps you’ll need to take before you reach that destination.
4. Be honest.
Honesty in communication is key. Being open and candid about your shortcomings, failures, and successes helps create trust and credibility among your team members. Honesty makes people feel valued and respected. Plus, honesty builds confidence in your own abilities and creates a safe environment for constructive criticism.
5. Give credit where credit is due.
In order to motivate others, you must learn to give credit where credit is due. Too often, we only praise the accomplishments of our peers instead of praising ourselves. We must learn to recognize our own contributions to achieving a certain goal, even if it was just being present at the table. Praise comes easily to some people, while it may be hard for others. In general, though, it’s best to give praise early and often. Try giving praise for small tasks throughout the day. Soon, you’ll start noticing that the people around you are feeling appreciated and motivated to do their best.
6. Keep the door open.
Openness helps build relationships. If you want to maintain good working relationships, you should foster a culture of openness. Openness involves sharing information and ideas freely and openly with your colleagues. In addition, open communications help establish rapport and trust between employees.
7. Set examples.
When setting an example, be consistent. This includes showing up on time, staying focused on what you are doing, and demonstrating good behavior. People often look to their leaders for guidance and direction, and if you don’t set a good example, they won’t follow suit.
Lastly, Empathy in leadership doesn’t mean having sympathy for your followers problems. Rather, it means understanding what they are feeling and thinking. When a leader empathise, they take time to understand the followers point of view and how their experience might differ from their own. By doing this, empathy helps leaders build trust and respect with those around them. When leaders feel respected and trusted, they find it easier to lead.
Leadership is a complex topic. Great leaders exhibit leadership traits like clarity, empathy and influence.
