Hello buddies. From our last episode, we established the fact that leadership qualities are developed in order for someone to effectively function in a leadership position. We saw some qualities that a leader needs to have: like a good listening ear, ability to follow and to build good relationships. Here, we shall be continuing on qualities one should possess or develop as a good leader. One should also know that developing oneself for leadership is not a gift but a conscious choice that one has to make. So let us see which qualities one needs to build.
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1. Lead by example
There is no better way of motivating someone to do something like doing it first. It is not enough to stay at the leadership position and give orders, you have to also let your actions to align with your words. If as a leader, you say one thing but your actions say another thing, then you need to work on yourself. When you lead, you should do so by setting examples of what it should be. You have to bring in your wealth of experiences and then affect the organisation positively. You do not expect your followers to do everything while you sit in the timeline and watch, you need to be fully involved.
When your followers see that you have taken a lead in something and that you are getting it done, they will naturally feel motivated to join you, than if you just throw out orders to them on what to do without being involved. As a leader, you should show the kind of example that you want your subordinates to follow after. As a matter of fact, the examples that you show are like the legacies you have left behind. So show good examples. You will not expect your subordinates to be truthful and honest if you are always caught with shady deals. You will not expect them to be punctual to work and dedicated to work when you do not even take the job seriously. As a leader, always try to be the kind of follower you want.
2. Have a team spirit
As a leader, you should form part of your team and try to exhibit a high level of teamwork. More so, for whatever good that the organisation is experiencing, try not to take the credit alone, learn to also acknowledge others that have contributed in anyway to help. If you always take all the glory for any achievement that is made, a point may come when people will start to lose interest in you and they may even see you as being proud. To get people motivated for team tasks, make them to feel important and they will give you their support.
I once belonged to a particular group were a new leader was selected. She felt that she was the brain behind the success of the group, that without her everything will not work. As such, she always takes the credit for any achievement and it did not tell well on her because it got to a point that people started to lose interest in the group. Within just a few months she headed the group, many previously active members became dormant and they will just come up with excuses of their absence. This is because the leader made them to feel like their impacts were not felt and that she was the only one working. As a leader, you need to carry everyone along and have a good team spirit and also a good team player.
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3. Learn to take responsibility as a leader
Always remember that leadership calls for a high level of dedication, work, responsibility, and sacrifices. Of course, the higher the position you attain in life, the greater the demand on you. If something is not working in your organisation, you do not need to apportion blame or look for excuses to give, you need to take responsibility for it, so as to know where to improve on. If as a leader, you always give excuses for non-performance, what do you want your followers to do. Always remember that you have the responsibility to make decisions in favour of the organisation without recourse to sentiments or emotions. This reminds me of this popularly used statement:
Uneasy lies the head upon which the crown is worn
As you attain a leadership position, it will call for more duties and heavier responsibilities. So if you do not want to fail in your leadership duties, then you should be ready and willing to take responsibilities: responsibilities for your actions, inactions, decisions, and indecision.
Thanks for reading
