7 PERSONAL QUALITIES FOUND IN GOOD LEADER

2008-12-09T23:09:00.000-08:00

How often have you heard the comment, "He or she is a born leader?" There are certain characteristics found in some people that seem to naturally put them in a position where they're looked up to as a leader.
Whether in fact a person is born a leader or develops skills and abilities to become a leader is open for debate. There are some clear characteristics that are found in good leaders. These qualities can be developed or may be naturally part of their personality. Let us explore them further.

1. A good leader has an exemplary character.

It is of utmost importance that a leader is trustworthy to lead others. A leader needs to be trusted and be known to live their life with honestly and integrity. A good leader "walks the talk" and in doing so earns the right to have responsibility for others. True authority is born from respect for the good character and trustworthiness of the person who leads.

2. A good leader is enthusiastic about their work or cause and also about their role as leader. People will respond more openly to a person of passion and dedication. Leaders need to be able to be a source of inspiration, and be a motivator towards the required action or cause. Although the responsibilities and roles of a leader may be different, the leader needs to be seen to be part of the team working towards the goal. This kind of leader will not be afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty.

3. A good leader is confident.

In order to lead and set direction a leader needs to appear confident as a person and in the leadership role. Such a person inspires confidence in others and draws out the trust and best efforts of the team to complete the task well. A leader who conveys confidence towards the proposed objective inspires the best effort from team members.

4. A leader also needs to function in an orderly and purposeful manner in situations of uncertainty.

People look to the leader during times of uncertainty and unfamiliarity and find reassurance and security when the leader portrays confidence and a positive demeanor.

5. Good leaders are tolerant of ambiguity and remain calm, composed and steadfast to the main purpose.

Storms, emotions, and crises come and go and a good leader takes these as part of the journey and keeps a cool head.

6. A good leader, as well as keeping the main goal in focus, is able to think analytically.

Not only does a good leader view a situation as a whole, but is able to break it down into sub parts for closer inspection. While keeping the goal in view, a good leader can break it down into manageable steps and make progress towards it.

7. A good leader is committed to excellence.

Second best does not lead to success. The good leader not only maintains high standards, but also is proactive in raising the bar in order to achieve excellence in all areas.
These seven personal characteristics are foundational to good leadership. Some characteristics may be more naturally present in the personality of a leader. However, each of these characteristics can also be developed and strengthened. A good leader whether they naturally possess these qualities or not, will be diligent to consistently develop and strengthen them in their leadership role.by:Barbara white

Your Own Leadership Technique

2008-11-26T23:36:00.000-08:00

Are you a leader or can you be a leader? And what qualifies to be a leader? Leadership can be in different techniques or forms, but actually there are three major techniques of leadership. Great leaders know and understand all of these three styles. There are times that they do not just choose or adhere firmly to only one style, but sometimes they also incorporate different styles and methods depending on various given situations. So, if you are a leader, which kind of leadership style fits you or works for you? The first kind of leadership style is the dictatorial method.
With this type of leadership, it is most suitable if the team or work force is already experienced. When the team is already matured, a command only makes the team work together towards their main goal being targeted. However, with this type of leadership, if it is always being used, you are likely to get people with less feedback. It is because the staff does not feel like they are inspired with someone dictatorial or let's say, intimidating. Thus, less interaction inside the company takes place. With this, the team will not improve at all or just remain stagnant. The second style of leadership is known as the democratic style.
This is next to the dictatorial style. The democratic style permits the people to contribute necessary feedback and inputs, before the leader himself gives the final decision and gives his final seal of approval. It allows the team more active participation in decision making, but just to a certain limited extent. The third leadership style is the delegating style. Delegation is a process which involves the tasks and responsibilities being distributed and assigned (normally equally) to different people usually depending on their areas of expertise, experience, or tenure with the company. This is by far the most empowering and effective method and is more commonly used across the world these days.
And most companies using this type of leadership style have been very open minded about change and is being flexible to this fast-paced modern changing world. This type of leader sets a goal or a target that is quite common or familiar to the people, and allows the team to formulate their own set of ideas and decisions. This way, there are more options available for the team. These people will evaluate and create decisions by themselves. However, if anything goes wrong with the final decision they made, their leader will still be held accountable. In this manner, it is very important that the key people designated as being decision makers are ideally good candidates.
You first need to consider how critical the decision is to be made in order to choose your own brand of leadership. You should also need to fully understand well what are the experiences and capacities of the people and if there are potential graet candidates to be exceptional leaders. In the end, they will truly affect the outcome of the company's success.by.Amy Twain

Good Leadership

7 PERSONAL QUALITIES FOUND IN GOOD LEADER

Your Own Leadership Technique