Leadership Qualities - What Makes a Good Leader

Leadership Qualities - What Makes a Good LeaderLeadership Qualities - What Makes a Good LeaderLeadership qualities allow an individual to guide a group of people toward a common goal. It is not a specific skillthat makes someone a good leader, but rather a platzdeckchen of them. Each is valuable on its own but taken together, these leadership qualities allow an individual to succeed in certain occupations or advance through the ranks of an organization. What Qualities Make You a Good Leader? A combination of abilities will allow you to influence others. To be an effective leader, you must be able to Communicate VerballyA strong leader must be articulate. Excellent speaking skills will allow you to be able to impart instructions to your staff and pertinent information to your colleagues and clients.Listen Not only must you be able to convey information to others, but it is also imperative that you comprehend what they are telling you. Excellent listening skills will allow you to b uild rapport with your kollektiv and understand and address their concerns.Persuade Good leaders dont merely demand their workers follow their commands blindly. They convince them that it is the best thing to do. Use Critical Thinking to Make Decisions and Solve ProblemsLeaders spend a lot of time making decisions and solving problems, which requires using critical thinking skills. When faced with having to make a decision or come up with a solution to a problem, the ability to compare various actions and solutions regarding their costs and benefits is essential.Delegate Work to OthersBeing a leader doesnt mean you have to take on every task yourself. That would be inefficient. Your strength should be in knowing who on your team you can count on to do a great job. Organize Your Own and Others WorkGood organizational skills will allow you to complete work in a timely fashion and help those you lead to do the same.Take Responsibility for Yours and Your Subordinates MistakesAn effectiv e leader doesnt blame others for his or her mistakes. Take ownership when things go wrong. That goes for when you made the error or when one of your subordinates did.Persevere Tenacity is a trait that will allow you to get through any situation, regardless of how difficult things become. Often slow and steady really does win the race. When you arent able to reach your goals as quickly as desired, keep striving to get to the finish line. Adapt to Change When plans get thrown off course, as they often do, flexibility may be called for. The willingness to make adjustments to your original strategy can help you reach your goals. If you can adjust your plans, you will have a better chance of succeeding and helping your team move forward.Build Relationships Good leaders can connect with people and foster connections between others. Think of the mutual friend who coordinates the plans for a group of individuals who wouldnt otherwise know one another. Developing good working relationships w ith both your subordinates and superiors is an essential leadership quality. Show Respect for Your Subordinates Tyrants may get others to do things, but they arent seen as good leaders, at least not by those in their charge. If you want people who are under your authority to respect you, you must also demonstrate respect for them.Support Others You will thrive when your team does. It will be in your best interests to help those with whom you work to reach their goals. But that isnt the primary reason to support your subordinates and coworkers. People appreciate knowing their leaders are on their side as they try to reach their goals. Respond to Crises If you panic every time something unexpected happens, so will your team. And nothing will get done. It is your job to lead your team through every crisis successfully. Careers That Require Strong Leadership Skills Excellent leadership skills are required in many occupations, especially if you aspire to a managerial position. Here a re some vocations for which this skill set is especially important Chief Executive Officer Usually referred to as a CEO, she helps a company or organization achieve success by setting goals, implementing strategies, coordinating senior staff, and reporting to the board of directors.Athletic CoachA coach teaches individuals or team athletes the fundamentals of a sport and trains them to succeed in it.Pilot Although a pilots primary responsibility is flying an aircraft, he is also in charge of a planes crew.Choreographer A choreographer designs dances, instructs dancers, and leads rehearsals. JudgeA judge presides over legal cases and makes sure they are handled fairly according to the law.Producer A producer oversees financial and business matters for movies, television shows, and stage productions.Director A director makes sure the creative aspects of films, stage productions, and television shows run smoothly.Clergy Members of the clergy, including rabbis, priests, imams, and minis ters, organize and lead religious services and educational programs in houses of worship.Teacher In addition to helping students learn and apply concepts in a variety of subjects, a teacher supervises teachers aides and mentors newer educators. DoctorA doctor diagnoses and treats medical conditions, and may manage other health professionals.Recreational Therapist A recreational therapist plans and coordinates recreational activities that are used to treat ill or injured people.Funeral DirectorA funeral director helps bereaved families plan their deceased relatives funerals.ChefA chef runs a kitchen and supervises other culinary employees in a dining establishment.Athletic TrainerAn athletic trainer treats athletes and others who have injured their muscles or bones. Fashion DesignerA fashion designer creates clothing and accessories. He or she may direct workers who cut patterns and construct products.Registered NurseA registered nurse treats patients and advises them and their famil ies. He or she may also supervise other healthcare workers.Urban or Regional Planner An urban or regional planner makes recommendations to a community about how it can best use its land and resources.