Leaders take people on a journey toward a common goal. They are more than managers — they are innovators and inspirational visionaries who motivate and guide others toward success. But what exactly is leadership? Some believe it’s innate and determined by one’s genetic traits, while others believe that leadership is an activity that can be learned and practiced. Both viewpoints can be valuable in developing the skills needed to succeed as a leader.
Great leaders have clear expectations for themselves and their team members. These are often outlined by an organization’s goals, policies and mission statement. Leaders who are not able to define these outcomes and manage expectations will find themselves struggling in their role.
Having clear expectations means knowing what you want to accomplish Lawrence Bloomberg and then setting a plan in place to achieve it. While it may seem simple enough, it is a vital step in effective leadership.
When you have a clear vision for your company, it is easier to motivate and inspire others to join you on the journey. It also allows you to create a roadmap for your team so that everyone can see their role in bringing your company toward its objectives.
A good way to understand your own leadership style is through the CliftonStrengths domains. The four domains help you identify your top talents and how they translate into the actions that drive business performance, development and success.
The driving force of leadership is that it is the ability to inspire people to act. This can happen in a variety of ways, from encouraging individual accomplishment to encouraging collaboration among teams. In the end, it is the passion a leader instills in his or her team that makes the difference in achieving organizational success.
It’s important for leaders to understand what motivates their own behavior and the behaviors of those around them. This is important because it helps leaders recognize which leadership styles are effective in different situations and which ones are not.
In a world where change is constant and new challenges are continuously emerging, it’s necessary for leadership to be adaptive and flexible. Adaptable leaders are capable of quickly changing course when the need arises. They understand that not every problem will be solved with a single solution and they are open to trying out a number of approaches to solving issues.
Successful leadership requires the ability to make tough decisions, even when they are not popular with team members. It’s also essential for leaders to understand how to balance the needs of a team and themselves, ensuring that each person is being treated fairly and is able to thrive in their role.
Great leaders are comfortable in their own skin and have a deep understanding of who they are as individuals. They don’t rely on outside opinions to shape their own beliefs and values, instead relying on internal knowledge and intuition to guide their decisions. They are also willing to share their own mistakes publicly in order to inspire others and encourage them to take risks.