Day to Day, do you get derailed because things aren’t developing as your think they should or could? Do you see people hanging around achieving little. In the daily push and shove, do you sense that you’re not moving towards your goals and objectives at all. If this is the case, perhaps it’s time for you to stop tolerating conditions as they are and take action.
Most people are don’t want to take responsibility for decisions. And it isn’t unusual to adopt a I-wont-make a-decision attitude, because they don’t want tot be blamed. However, if some inner part of you, has the impetus to get things moving, to take charge instead of following sheep-like. Then it’s time to lean how to be a leader.
Are leaders made or born? Perhaps, it is true that some people are born with innate abilities. But even then, without preparation, without the spur of motivation, without vehemence, and without practical knowledge, there can be no true progress and success in leadership.
Also bear in mind that leaders are readers. That is excellent leaders are forever working on and learning to boost their instinctive adeptness. This requires engaging in never-ending and constant improvement cycles in any undertaking they are inclined.
First lets elucidate what leadership actually is. In the act of leading, one must be able to impact others to bing about a goal, or an aim. They are instrumental to the institution and solidarity of a team.
Leadership is not about power. In fact power is the antithesis of leadership. Nagging people and using fear tactics will get a leader, at best short term results, if any at all. It is about cheering the team en route to the objective goal of the organisation. Getting everyone singing from the same song sheet and assisting them see the vision of the organization. You must be a leader not a tyrant.
The initial thing to do is actually get people to follow you. How so?
Individuals support others when they see (and believe in) a clear sense of purpose. People will only follow you if they see that you know where you are going. I remember walking with a friend one day, and he turned to me and asked ” Where are we going?” and I replied “I was following you.” This applies to leadership. You have to know where your headed and why you’re going there. Otherwise people won’t follow you at all.
You yourself must know the vision of the organization. Having a clear sense of hierarchy, knowing who the executives are, who to talk to, the organization’s goals and objectives, and how the organization works is the only way to show others you know what you are doing. It never ceased to amaze me that people I worked with in the corporate world never read the annual reports.
You can always recognise a leader in a crowd. It’s about who you are, what you know, and what you do. You are the walking embodiment and manifestation of what you want your team to be. People don’t believe what they see on the walls, they believe what they see in the halls, the observed behaviour. Leaders are exemplars.
Surveys show a good indicator of your success as a leader is the trust and faith your direct reports have of you. If they trust you, they will go through hell and high water for you and for the organisation.
Good relationships, high ethics, and trust build great leadership.
The way you behave and interact with your team, and the relationships you shape will lay the underpinning for the toughness of your group. The stronger your bonds, the more sturdy their faith and belief is in your competence.
Now having gained their trust and confidence, progress to articulating the aims and objectives you are to tackle.
KEY SKILL – COMMUNICATION
Communication is a major piece of the puzzle to effective leadership. Simply without it there is no way to be a good leader. The proficiency and specialised skills sets you have need to be explicitly transferred to other people. Take time to learn language, grammar and increase your vocabulary.
KEY SKILL – JUDGMENT
The other great skills is judgment. Being able to investigate conditions, situations, examine the pluses and minuses of decisions, and actively seek out solutions. Sometimes an employee getting half way in the face of adversity is more impressive than another easily achieving a goal and not exploiting the opportunity enough.
It is this judgment that your team will come to respect. As a result, good decision-making is essential to the longevity of your organisation and in particular your career.
KEY SKILL – DELEGATION
The best leaders delegate easily and effectively. They are not do-it-all super stars. Don’t contend to know everything, and you should not be able to manage without your skills alone.
Know and take advantage of the capabilities and faculty of your team. The stage that you materialise this you will be able to work as one cogent unit.
CONTINUOUS LEARNING
Bear in mind being a leader takes a lot of time, work, and effort. And it is daily. It is not learned overnight. Be mindful, also, that it is not about just you. It is about your needs and goals being met through meeting the rational self-interest of those around you.
So, do you have the urge and the energy to serve as is mandatory of leaders? Do you have the eagerness to work in concert with others? Then start now. Rise up and be leader this very day.
‘Helping Leaders build great organisations”
(C) Daniel Lock.
