Everybody defines leadership differently but I really like the way John C Maxwell defines leadership, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” Irrespective of how you define a leader, he or she can prove to be a difference maker between success and failure. A good leader has a futuristic vision and knows how to turn his ideas into real-world success stories. A good leader must possess all the following qualities as has been the hallmark of me,which make me stand unique among other leaders
What makes someone be a good leader?
<These are the things that makes Kwarteng Samuel Owusu a good leader >
__A good leader must be:
1. Honesty and Integrity
The 34th President of United States, Dwight.D.Eisenhower once said, “The supreme quality of leadership is unquestionably integrity.Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.” Honesty and integrity are two important ingredients which make a good leader. How can you expect your followers to be honest when you lack these qualities yourself? Leaders succeed when they stick to their values and core beliefs and without ethics, this will not be possible. For honesty and integrity I Samuel stand out to be one.
2. Confidence
To be an
effective leader, i should be confident enough to ensure that others follow my commands. If I am unsure about my own decisions and qualities, then my subordinates will never follow me. As a leader, i have to be filled with confidence, show some swagger and assertiveness to gain the respect of my subordinates. This does not mean that i should be overconfident, but i should at least reflect the degree of confidence required to ensure that my followers trust me as a leader.
3. Inspire Others
Probably the most difficult job for a leader is to persuade others to follow. It can only be possible if you inspire your followers by setting a good example, of which I Samuel have that quality of inspiring others. When the going gets tough, they look up to you and see how you react to the situation. If you handle it well, they will follow you. As a leader, should think positive and this positive approach should be visible through your actions. Stay calm under pressure and keep the
motivation level up. As John Quincy Adams puts it, “
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” If you are successful in inspiring your subordinates, you can easily overcome any current and future challenge easily.
4. Commitment and Passion
My team look up to me and if i want them to give their all, then i will have to be passionate about it too. When my teammates see me getting my hands dirty, they will also give their best shot. It will also help me to gain the respect of my subordinates and infuse new energy in my team members, which helps them to perform better. If they feel that i am not fully committed or lacks passion, then it would be an uphill task for me to motivate my followers to achieve the goal of the team and theirs as well.
5. Good Communicator
Until you clearly communicate your vision to your team and tell them the strategy to achieve the goal, it will be very difficult for you to get the results you want. Simply put, if i am unable to communicate my message effectively to my team, then I can never be a good leader. A good communicator can be a good leader. Words have the power to motivate people and make them do the unthinkable. If i use them effectively, it can also help to achieve better results as It has been a remarkable thing on I Samuel always.
6. Decision-Making Capabilities
Apart from having a futuristic vision, a leader should have the ability to take the right decision at the right time. Decisions taken by leaders have a profound impact on masses. A leader should think long and hard before taking a decision but once the decision is taken, stand by it. Although, most leaders take decisions on their own, but it is highly recommended that i
consult key stakeholdersbefore taking a decision. After all, they are the ones who will benefit or suffer from my decisions. And it is another great thing in me,I always gather my people and poure out me inquire decisions and intentions to them before taking an action and once it is set it should be abide .
7. Accountability
When it comes to accountability, i follow the approach highlighted by Arnold H Glasow when he said, “A good leader takes little more than his share of the blame and little less than his share of the credit.” I always make sure that every one of my subordinates is accountable for what they are doing. If they do well, i give them a pat on the back but if they struggle, i make them realize their mistakes and work together to improve. Holding them accountable for their actions create a sense of responsibility among my subordinates and they will go about the business more seriously.
8. Delegation and Empowerment
I cannot do everything. It is important for me to focus on key responsibilities while leaving the rest to others. By that, I mean empowering my followers and delegating tasks to them. If i continue to micromanage my subordinates, it will develop a lack of trust and more importantly, i will not be able to focus on important matters, as i should be delegate tasks to my subordinates and see how they perform. I provide them with all the resources and support they need to achieve the objective and give them a chance to bear the responsibilities as well.
9. Creativity and Innovation
What separates a mefrom my followers?
Steve Jobs, the greatest visionary of our time answers this question this way, “
Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” In order to get ahead in today’s fast-paced world, a leader must be creative and innovative at the same time. Creative thinking and constant innovation is what makes me and my team stand out from the crowd. Think out of the box to come up with unique ideas and turn those ideas and goals into reality as Mr.Angad Sing the founder and CEO of edoofa recommended me on that.
10. Empathy
Last but certainly not the least, is empathy. Leaders should develop empathy with their followers as I always do to help me be a good leader. Unfortunately, most leaders follow a dictatorial style and neglect empathy altogether. Due to this, they fail to make a closer connection with their followers. Understanding the problems of your followers and feeling their pain is the first step to become an effective leader of which is my secret of my good leadership.Even that is not enough until you work hard and provide your followers with the suitable solution to their problems.
Conclusion
To become a good leader, you must have all these qualities but if you lack some of these qualities, then you might struggle to make the mark in the world of leadership. You will have to set a good example for others to follow. That is where your commitment, passion, empathy, honesty and integrity come into play. Good communication skills and decision-making capabilities also play a vital role in success and failure of a leader. Lastly, innovation and creative thinking, as well as the futuristic vision, are a couple of key traits which make a leader stand out.By doing all these it help to better my career in all aspects of life activities!!!!
Author : kwarteng Samuel Owusu
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