What is leadership? You might have heard many times in life to act and think like a leader. But we are yet to hear how to implement it.
Some people say, “I haven’t gotten a chance to switch as a commanding official to show my adminship.” Remember, being a Senior official or a CEO does not necessarily mean you are a leader. You must work on your qualities and skills, balancing and developing your team’s trust.
Leadership is a quality that cannot be taught but can be understood and adopted. So, who comes to your mind while thinking about a great leader?
Indeed, inspirational figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Dr.B.R. Ambedkar, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, etc. might come to your mind.
If you ask me, whom do I follow as a leader? The answer would be Shri Krishna. You may ask why?
Shri Krishna is revered as “the significant crisis manager” because he has an exceptional ability to find solutions for his followers in trouble. Moreover, his character shows the qualities of mouldability and willingness to adapt/change.
A great leader must be capable of clearing his follower’s self-doubts and upholding what is right in any phase of life to perform their selfless actions towards the goal.
The true definition of a leader-
A person on a mission to improve things and inspire people to motivate them towards their goals is called a leader in a true sense. A successful leader has a shared vision with fundamental values and recognizes the path to reach their team goals. Leaders are the ship’s Captains; they support, inspire and manage their teams to work more confidently and innovatively toward the shared vision.
A leader delegates his team members to show leadership qualities and act with unconventional passion. The head of the team motivates and inspires members to maintain long-term progress and enthusiasm towards achieving their aim.
Contribution of a leader in one’s life-
The previous section provides a clear understanding of a “Leader,” but some of you might ask, “What is the role of a leader?”
Generally, the role of a Captain is to inspire, coach, and guide others. However, a leader can motivate his team members individually towards the team’s shared goal during challenging times.
Traits of a good leader-
Here are some traits that are a must in a leader:
- Approachable.
- Perseverance.
- Long-term and short-term goals.
- Transparency.
- Curious.
- Sense of gratitude.
- Self-control.
- Resilience.
- Optimism.
- Determination.
- Adaptability.
- Social Intelligence.
- Confidence & Calmness.
- Compassion
Responsibilities of a Leader
Throughout the above discussion, you might have understood that a headman has many responsibilities, but they mainly tend to be:
- Mentor
- Advisor
- Inspiration
Mentor:
A great leader mentors his team and guides them in aligning their goals with the company’s goals. A captain knows how to balance his team member’s aims with the organizational targets. They are good at making the development of each individual a mutual relationship. Often the growth of the individual is related to the company’s growth.
Advisor:
Along with coaching, leaders also guide their employees. Advising comes through initiating and classifying teams, fixing goals, forming ways to achieve those goals, and leading workforces through the process.
A leader might guide employees through difficult conversations, or find different ways to solve problems.
Inspire:
An undervalued role of a leader is to inspire. Great leaders can leverage their storytelling, empathy, and communication skills to encourage their employees and key stakeholders.
Whether vouching for promotions for direct reports, moving back on a plan, or managing a team that’s missed its goals—motivating others is a big part of a leader’s role.
How to develop leadership qualities?
Here’s how you can develop leadership qualities:
1. Confidence
Be self-assured even if you don’t have all the answers. Maintain good body language, make eye contact, keep your head up while talking, speak clearly, and use correct speaking gestures to emphasize key points. Intend confidence, and have faith in your ability to take your team from one end to another.
2. Learning
Keep learning and exploring your areas of interest. Take advantage of every opportunity to improve your knowledge.
3. Look for an experienced coach
There is always a chance to grow, even in a top leading position. Go to someone you admire and who has strong leadership qualities. You could ask them to talk over coffee or lunch or see if they’d be open to being a long-term coach for you.
Asking someone to be a coach can be overwhelming, but stay calm. Instead, connect with someone who has achieved the goals that you always wanted to achieve. Show interest in their accomplishments, and, most importantly, ask for advice.
4. Learn how to manage disputes
If there is a disagreement between team members, ask them to keep their emotions aside. Give them time to cool down. Then, identify the source of the dispute and take steps to resolve it. Next, try to understand everyone’s point of view. Finally, do your best to bring them all on the same page.
Imparting leadership productively
- As a Captain, you need to impose clear rules and borderline. Yet, your team might oppose you if you don’t balance authority sensitively. Therefore, Be firm but tender-hearted.
- Stick to your decisions, but don’t be a dictator. Gather information, listen to various opinions, and take the time to debate. Then, when the discussion is over, make a final decision. Thus, be decisive.
- A Leader can’t control his team or cannot try to do everything himself. They had to assign tasks, clarify expectations, and provide necessary training. If you set up team members for success, it will be easier to trust them to get the work done. So, assign tasks and explain them clearly.
How to earn your troop’s trust?
- Respect your team member’s opinions. Compliment them for their hard work, and never use ill-suited language. Let them know that you’re genuinely concerned for them. But remember, showing them regard doesn’t mean you succumb to their whims.
- Keeping your promises would help you earn trust and respect. But be realistic while doing so, that it is something you can fulfil.
- Uphold your decisions even if the consequences go wrong. Don’t blame anyone for shielding yourself. A good leader persists if the results are different from the plan.
Conclusion:
A leader has numerous qualities and helps his team achieve short-term & long-term goals beyond his position and recognition in an organization.
Leaders are more than just managers – they are empathetic, creative, and innovative. They have a quality of inspiring to unite others in their mission. They know they must keep improving their skills by learning something new only to get better results. Thus, a leader depends on correlative support from his team members.
