What are the qualities of leadership? What characteristics are needed to be a good leader? It doesn't matter what your job title is or whether you are in any position of leadership, leadership skills and qualities can come in very handy during many of the challenging situations that we face in life.
What separates a good leader and a poor one is having the right characteristic of leadership and using effective leadership styles. There are plenty of attributes required to be a good leader. For this article, lets focus on the most vital ones.
I. Great Communicator. Good communication is one of the most important characteristic of leadership. A good leader is able to communicate well not only with the people he is leading, but with external parties as well.
So what does it mean to be a good communicator? For starters it means saying what is required, not what is desired. Good leaders tell the truth like it is, without sugarcoating or fearing of hurting others' feelings.
A good leader always encourages his followers. Where necessary, a good leader will criticize and reprimand. Where credit is due, he will give it. A good leader always listens to what his followers has to say and there is always two way communication.
2. Decision Making. Another important aspect of good leadership is the ability to make decisions and provide directions. A good decision maker is one that;
1. BE TIMELY - Being able to make decisions within the required time and not spending too much time analyzing and considering each decision. 2. BE RESOLUTE - This means having the firmness and willpower to stick to each decision long enough to see it bear fruit. 3. FLEXIBLE - To have the flexibility to change directions and decisions when it is discovered that the initial judgment may not be the right one.
It is often not possible to have all information available to make a decision. At times like this, the effective leader uses his instinct and judgment, and is never afraid of making the decision.
Developing these two attributes will bring you a long way towards becoming a great leader.
What separates a good leader and a poor one is having the right characteristic of leadership and using effective leadership styles. There are plenty of attributes required to be a good leader. For this article, lets focus on the most vital ones.
I. Great Communicator. Good communication is one of the most important characteristic of leadership. A good leader is able to communicate well not only with the people he is leading, but with external parties as well.
So what does it mean to be a good communicator? For starters it means saying what is required, not what is desired. Good leaders tell the truth like it is, without sugarcoating or fearing of hurting others' feelings.
A good leader always encourages his followers. Where necessary, a good leader will criticize and reprimand. Where credit is due, he will give it. A good leader always listens to what his followers has to say and there is always two way communication.
2. Decision Making. Another important aspect of good leadership is the ability to make decisions and provide directions. A good decision maker is one that;
1. BE TIMELY - Being able to make decisions within the required time and not spending too much time analyzing and considering each decision. 2. BE RESOLUTE - This means having the firmness and willpower to stick to each decision long enough to see it bear fruit. 3. FLEXIBLE - To have the flexibility to change directions and decisions when it is discovered that the initial judgment may not be the right one.
It is often not possible to have all information available to make a decision. At times like this, the effective leader uses his instinct and judgment, and is never afraid of making the decision.
Developing these two attributes will bring you a long way towards becoming a great leader.
About the Author:
Author Ethan Beh is a business consultant and self improvement enthusiast. He has spent many years indulging in various self improvement techniques which includes motivation, leadership and characteristic of leadership.