After spending almost two decades in leadership positions across several industries. I have discovered that the key to leaders being successful came down to some key attributes and competences. Today I will focus on some of these areas – so you too can gain or improve your success as a leader.
Self-awareness
It is import for you to be in touch with your own emotions. As a leader you are always on a stage. What you do and say matters. Therefore, you must figure out how you are perceived by your team and decide if that is the image you want to portray. Once you have this figured out – you are able to be the leader you want to be for your team, while being true to yourself.
Empathy
Empathy is a very important trait for a successful leader. A leader should be able to connect on a personal level by being understanding, aware and sensitive to what the staff member is going through. This connection demonstrates your genuine interest in them. It shows that you care about their wellbeing, point of view and their feelings. People are not only concern about what you are able to do for them – but also how you make them feel. Therefore, team members should feel that they belong, are cared for and valued.
Trustworthiness
Trust is very hard to achieve and is easily eroded if it is not protected. People are looking for leaders who they can share their deepest feelings with – without feeling betrayed. Leaders are expected to guard these secrets and not divulge them to anyone unless it’s a safety issue. Where the person is in danger of hurting themselves or others. They might not like you for sharing this information – but they will respect you. Team members expect their leaders to be more than just their boss. They need you to be a counselor, advisor, trainer, pastor or even a friend at times. Their needs vary from day-to-day – but a good leader adapts, in order to keep the team together. Therefore, do not divulge information shared in confidence to other team members because they do talk and if this information leaks out, then you will not be seen as a credible or trustworthy leader.
Specialize in people development.
The leaders who specialize in people development are likely to have a longer and more stable careers. Staff members should be provided with the necessary access to training and skill development on a regular basis. This will increase their interest in the job, productivity, and job satisfaction. Give your staff equal opportunity to pursue higher degrees and certifications through scholarships, grants, and tuition forgiveness if possible. Also, seminars, webinars and team building activities should be done on company time. Leaders have to invest more in their staff and not worry about them leaving after they are more skilled or knowledgeable. We have all benefited from high performers both internally and externally, that we never trained. Therefore, do not be selfish, high performers will leave – but they also stay because of the value you placed on them.
People development involves the leaders themselves as well – and not just their staff. We know that managers have busy schedules and find it hard to attend trainings. This can be fixed by scheduling blocks of time weekly/monthly on your calendar for educational activities. Then use these times for education and not to finish up projects etc. You will thrive in your position as a leader if you focus on continuous learning.
Velocity
A good leader understands the importance of speed in the organization. We are operating in an environment where information is provided and decisions are made at a very high speed. Everything is being done rapidly, and those that keep up survives and those who don’t dies.
Since speed is so critical, managers should be constantly scanning the environment to find new ways to improve product and service delivery times. This will help to clear potential bottlenecks and bureaucracies, so that the flow of the business is not hindered. Instead of waiting long periods to make decisions – consider compressing the time to shorter periods. By doing this, you are able to maintain interest in the information as it is still fresh in your mind. The longer things are left outstanding – the higher the potential for them to fall through the cracks.
Clarity
Clarity is the way in which you are able to convey your thoughts, opinions, and objectives in a manner that your audience will understand. In other words, it involves breaking down the language being discussed at the board and executive level to one that is easily understood by your staff. Leaders and managers are guilty of using words that goes over the head of the staff. This is a problem – because if the staff do not understand the mission, they will not be able to get in line with the mission. Therefore, your message should be delivered in a clear and precise manner. This reduces the confusion and frustration of the staff considerably. As it also allows the staff to execute their job functions more effectively.
Conviction and motivation
Leaders who have a strong conviction for the work they do and the organization they lead are often very successful. Conviction is necessary if a leader is going to motivate the staff and lead them successfully towards the mission of the organization. As a leader, if you are not convinced on the mission and objectives of the company – it’s going to be very difficult to get buy-in from the staff. Therefore, strong leaders need to demonstrate conviction through their words and deeds. The staff cannot be fooled – they will know if you are not onboard through your actions and interactions with the them.
Courage
Leaders must be courageous in order to effectively lead their organizations. Risks are inherent to any business or industry. Leaders are required to take on these risks and navigate the companies they lead to a successful outcome. They are times when a decision needs to be made that may not be the popular option – however the leader must do what is necessary despite the decision not being popular. Leaders also need to exercise courage when giving feedback, especially when it is negative. No one knows how the other party might react to the message, but the feedback is necessary for growth and the prevention of situations that might be costly to the individual or the organization.
Calmness
Calm leaders are extremely necessary in all organizations as things will not always go as planned – and having someone leading that is cool under pressure makes these upheavals much better to navigate. This attribute is sometimes considered as innate – that is just their personality. While others have developed this characteristic through years of experience and knowledge. Irrespective of how this is acquired – it allows them to be calm in the midst of chaos. Organizations need leaders who are calm so in crisis situation they can marshal the troops effectively. No one wants a leader who loses their mind when they are losing theirs. They need someone to look to for direction during these chaotic times – and this is what a calm leader provides.
Conclusion
These attributes are critical to the success of any leader. They are used together and sometimes apart to get the job done correctly. I hope after exploring these characteristics – they will give you a fresh perspective on how to lead successfully.
