A true team leader has a long term vision and knows how to turn his ideas into real-world success stories. In this article, we take an in-depth look at some of the important leadership qualities that separate good leaders from a bad one. Here is given different leadership qualities which I have found from my last 12 years practical work experience from national and multinational company. As a true leader you have to exercise below qualities as well as want help from Almighty Allah to be a perfect leader.
Honesty:
Honesty and integrity are two important ingredients which make a good leader. How can you expect your followers to be honest when you lack these qualities yourself? Leaders succeed when they stick to their values and core beliefs and without ethics, this will not be possible.
Motivate Others:
As a leader, should think positive and this positive approach should be visible through your actions. Stay calm under pressure and keep the motivation level up. As John Quincy Adams puts it, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” If you are successful in inspiring your subordinates, you can easily overcome any current and future challenge easily.
Be Positive & Confident:
If you are unsure about your own decisions and qualities, then your subordinates will never follow you. To be an effective leader you should be confident enough to ensure that other follow your commands. This does not mean that you should be overconfident, but you should at least reflect the degree of confidence required to ensure that your followers trust you as a leader.
Have a Vision and Plan:
Vision is what differentiates a leader from a follower. A good leader comes with a clear vision and persuades others to believe in it as well with the same passion. Having a vision will not guarantee you success until you have a solid plan and strategy to turn your vision into reality. As Benjamin Franklin put it, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” Combine your vision with a plan of action and you will get one-step closer to converting your vision into reality.
Accountability:
Make sure that every one of your subordinates is accountable for what they are doing. If they do well, give them a pat on the back but if they struggle, make them realize their mistakes and work together to improve. Holding them accountable for their actions will create a sense of responsibility among your subordinates and they will go about the business more seriously.
Creativity and Innovation:
What separates a leader from a follower? Steve Jobs the greatest visionary of our time answers this question this way, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” In order to get ahead in today’s fast-paced world, a leader must be creative and innovative at the same time. Creative thinking and constant innovation is what makes you and your team stand out from the crowd. Think out of the box to come up with unique ideas and turn those ideas and goals into reality.
Decision-Making Capabilities:
Apart from having a futuristic vision, a leader should have the ability to take the right decision at the right time. Decisions taken by leaders have a profound impact on masses. A leader should think long and hard before taking a decision but once the decision is taken, stand by it. Although, most leaders take decisions on their own, but it is highly recommended that you consult key stakeholders before taking a decision. After all, they are the ones who will benefit or suffer from your decisions.
Passion & Commitment:
Your teams look up to you and if you want them to give them their all, you will have to be passionate about it too. When your teammates see you getting your hands dirty, they will also give their best shot. It will also help you to gain the respect of your subordinates and infuse new energy in your team members, which helps them to perform better. If they feel that you are not fully committed or lacks passion, then it would be an uphill task for the leader to motivate your followers to achieve the goal.
Give Credit, Don’t Take It Away:
As a leader, you should be the first one to recognize, appreciate and reward your followers instead of hoarding praise. This helps to keep them motivated and inspired. On the other hand, if you take all the credit for their efforts, it can send negative vibes to your followers. They eventually start to lose interest in your vision and refrain from giving their best, since they know their works will never be accredited to their names.
Create More Leaders:
Last, but certainly not the least, is to prepare the leaders of tomorrow. It is the duty of a good leader to pass on the torch and nurture future leaders from the team so that the good work continues. Identify people that have the potential to be future leaders and assign them leadership roles to gauge how they take on. Your legacy will never die if you prepare a leader that picks up from where you have left off and takes your mission forward.
To become a true team leader, you must have all these qualities but if you lack some of these qualities, then you might struggle to make the mark in the world of leadership. You will have to set a good example for others to follow.