Good leadership traits

Good leaders are the driving force and brains behind their companies. They are the trailblazers tasked with directing their brand away from stumbling blocks. They must know when to take advantage of opportunities and motivate personnel to work hard toward the companys objectives. Good leaders are more than just \"managers\" or \"bosses.\" Theyve figured out how to combine charisma, energy, and self-assurance, most likely with a fair dosage of luck and timing.

It is not easy to be a good leader. Effective leadership characteristics are necessary for achieving greater goals and objectives. Whether it is Mahatma Gandhis resistance and perseverance or Elon Musks vision. While certain people may be born with these abilities, the truth is that most leadership qualities can be developed and honed with time and practice. Here are the key traits of outstanding leaders and suggestions for incorporating them into your management style.

1. Humility

Humble leaders are the most effective. I am not asserting that this assertion is correct. Jim Collins seminal book \"Good to Great\" has significant study data on how humble and determined executives help their firms expand and maintain their market position. When we think of leadership, humility isnt the first quality that comes to mind. However, it is one of the most important characteristics of a good leader. Because the flamboyance of the recognized leadership attributes sometimes overshadows humility. Humble and determined leaders recognize that leadership is all about serving the greater good. They lead to transformation rather than dominance. They are conscious of their strengths and flaws, and they are always eager to learn and contribute to the group.

1. Self-Management

Great leaders always have self-discipline -without exception(John C. Maxwell). It isnt easy to manage people if you cant manage yourself properly. Self-management entails being able to prioritize your objectives and taking responsibility for achieving them. You must manage your time, attention, and emotions as a leader while keeping aware of your strengths, shortcomings, and potential sources of bias.

Leaders who excel at managing stress and balancing their personal and professional lives are exceptional. However, you must remember the value of compassion and respond appropriately to people and events. Remember to exercise self-control and discipline in your activities, but dont become too reserved or inflexible.

1. Being An Effective Communicator

Leaders who are in charge know when to speak and when to listen. They are good communicators who can clearly and concisely explain everything to their staff, from corporate goals to specific duties. People will fall short if they dont comprehend or arent aware of your expectations, thus the more detailed you can be, the better.

You must communicate effectively on all levels, including one-on-one, with the department, and with the entire team and by phone, email, and social media. Work on being approachable and involving people from all levels since communication is founded on a continual flow of verbal and nonverbal exchanges of ideas and information.

1. Being Responsible And Accountable

Accountability is the glue that ties commitment to the result. ~Bob Practor. Successful managers understand how to exercise power and authority in a way that does not overwhelm or dominate personnel. Effective leaders hold themselves and others accountable for their mistakes, expecting others to do the same. They can work within defined protocols and make decisions that are both productive and efficient.

They understand the importance of supporting and nurturing individuality while also being aware of organizational structures and adhering to rules and procedures. They can strike a balance between various points of view while taking suitable action.

1. Having A Future Perspective

Exceptional leaders can see into the future of their firm and set clear, measurable objectives that will benefit the company. They exude confidence and optimism, inspiring others to do the same. Managing change while striking a balance between stability and progress is what a visionary does. You must adopt fresh approaches while remaining focused on your primary objectives. Being a visionary entails recognizing that change is constant all around you and that what worked in the past may not necessarily work now. As you implement new tactics and allot resources, practice being flexible and adaptable.

1. Set clear expectations

According to a recent survey, 42 percent of employees are stressed out due to unclear goals. All excellent managers recognize the need of establishing clear (and realistic) expectations, which eliminates any room for ambiguity. One method to achieve this is to state your objectives clearly.

People will naturally gravitate toward you if you exude excitement and are enthusiastic about what youre doing. Remember that setting down your objectives is critical to your and your companys success. However, achieving those objectives takes time. Everyone around you will give up if you do. To be a good leader, you must be willing to persevere even when others are giving up.

1. Encouragement Of Creativity And Innovation

Good leaders must have the confidence to take risks and support innovation. The key is to stay focused on your objectives while remaining open-minded and adaptable in your approach. Encourage everyone around you to spend at least one hour with you. This will encourage the kind of creativity that will lead your company to new places and through the ups and downs of a shifting business landscape.

1. Developing Long-Term Relationships

More than just inspiring others to follow them, compelling leaders know how to push their employees to work tirelessly for the companys objectives. Employees who feel valued and appreciated and believe that what they do matters will be motivated to work more to help their organization succeed.

Outstanding leaders also recognize the need for successful networking, not only for their advancement but also for the benefit of their organization. Leaders generate effective relationships with consumers, clients, partners, and even competitors by building a large diverse network of people.

1. Team Building And Teamwork Promotion

The people you surround yourself with are crucial to your success as a leader. Leading a broad and distinctive group of people with distinct personalities, motivations, and talents necessitates team development. Many of the items on this list, such as fostering creativity, efficient communication, and attaining your organizations goals, require strong teams and teamwork. You will be creating an unstoppable force that will drive your organizations success if you recruit and nurture a good team.

1. Learning Agility

When faced with organizational change and uncertainty, agile leaders are the most effective. In todays world, we need leaders who can make decisions quickly and act quickly in times of crisis. We live in a fast-paced world where work trends change quickly. As a result, everyone has a limited amount of time to make informed decisions. Also, techniques and policies that have succeeded in the past may no longer be effective.

Summary

Every leader aspires to lead, inspire, and make a positive difference in the world. Nobody can claim to possess all of these leadership attributes. And its for this reason that youll need the correct leadership abilities to steer you in the right direction. The route is paved by constant work and self-belief. As a result, leaders should be aware of and practice these leadership abilities to achieve long-term success.

Nolwazi Mlala is a Business Analytics Consultant at Industrial Psychology Consultants (Pvt) Ltd, a management and human resources consulting firm.

Phone +263 4 481946-48/481950/2900276/2900966

Cell number +263 779538172

Email: nolwazi@ipcconsultants.com or visit our website at www.ipcconsultants.com