Leadership Development and Leadership Traits
This article discusses what makes a good leader
Most of our
in-house courses are based around the development of leadership. In this blog post we will give different definitions of what a leader is and a brief explanation of a leaders qualities.
Leadership is the set of capabilities that a person has to influence the minds of people in a group, making the team work with enthusiasm, and in achieving goals and objectives. It is also understood as the ability to take initiative, manage, hold, promote, encourage, motivate and evaluate a group or team. In business management, leadership is the exercise of executive activity to effectively and efficiently manage a project within the administrative process of an organization.
The Dictionary of Behavioral Sciences (1956) defines Leadership as the "qualities of personality and ability to promote the guidance and control of other individuals." Arieu defines a leader as "a person capable of inspiring and associate others with a dream."
The author Richard L. Daft, in his book The Leadership Experience defines leadership as: The relationship of influence that occurs between leaders and followers, by which both parties intend to change and get real results that reflect shared purposes.
There is a fundamental rule of leadership which is the basis for a good leader and it’s that leaders must understand their people in order for them to understand him, and therefore follow him.
However, a leader isn’t a leader only because of his abilities or skills, but because these skills are perceived by a group as necessary to achieve their goals – a leader has status. One can acquire status by getting a group or community to achieve their goals but in this process one has to distribute power and responsibility among the members of the group. This distribution plays an important role in the decision-making process and, therefore, the support that the group provides. A leader must demand respect.
It has been found that an individual who stands out as a leader in a constitutional organization does not necessarily stand out in a democratic situation. Depending on whether the situation requires quick and immediate action or permits deliberation and planning, leadership may fall on different people. In short, "the leader is made not only by his skills, but by the functional relationships with specific individuals in a specific situation." It is therefore important that organizations have a mission with high transcendental content, since it is a powerful way to strengthen the leadership of its managers.
Qualities of a good leader
1. Knowledge:
He must get the details of what needs to be done, know the facts and use this knowledge to properly obtain results.
2. Confidence in his team:
A good leader does not micromanage; he must know his team and make them feel comfortable with their tasks.
3. Integrity:
A good leader does what he says, what he promises and is consistent with his results.
4. Standards:
A good leader leads by example and sets the standards that the team must follow such as work ethic and skill set.
5. Decision-making capacity:
Good decision making is key, especially under pressure situations. A good leader must use the information available to assess the possibilities and make the best decisions possible.
6. Representativeness:
A good leader must represent the group and the group must want the leader to represent them.
7. Realistic but Positive Outlook:
It is expected that a leader can always find the best solution in any situation. Also the leader must always ask how problems and disasters help the team.
8. Knowing Outcomes:
A good leader is clear about the results he is looking for.
9. Vision:
A leader sees the future and determines the direction of the team. He must be able to communicate that vision so that his group can commit to it.
10. Appearance of power:
A group must be able to recognize the leader by his appearance and his presence.
11. Values:
A good leader must know his values, the team members values and aligning these with the company values. This is key to motivation and understanding others.
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