Effective Leadership
We’ve all read about great leaders. Maybe they were historical figures like George Washington or Martin Luther King, Jr. They may have been captains of industry like Henry Ford, influential politicians like Margaret Thatcher or sports legends like Michael Jordan. Even though their styles differed, all of these men and women were leaders.
What does it take to become a great leader, or more importantly, an effective leader? There are all sorts of answers to this question and different people ascribe different qualities to it. An effective leader will most certainly have passion, vision and creativity. In addition, he or she will have the ability the express that vision and the interpersonal skills to convince others to follow.
Leading business thinkers like Simon Sinek and Michael Hyatt have their individual takes on this question as well. Sinek, best-selling author and one of today’s most influential management gurus, believes leadership is ultimately about trust. The best leaders, he says, create a sense of security for others. They are selfless. They won’t ask their followers to do anything they wouldn’t do themselves. They’ll make sure their people are taken care of first. When you have a leader that’s willing to go the extra mile for you, you’ll return the favor.
Effective leaders also possess empathy. When you speak with them they’re not just hearing you, they’re listening to you as well, putting themselves in your shoes.
A third key ability is grace under fire. Leadership is easy when things are going well. When adversity strikes, an effective leader keeps their cool and doesn’t blame others. They continue to foster an environment of trust and keep their team moving in a positive direction.
Former CEO Michael Hyatt, a best-selling author as well, sees other characteristics that make up an effective leader. One of these is decisiveness. He says that in more cases than you might think, you already have the information to make a decision. Make it. Indecision comes from fear, and effective leaders are able to move beyond fear. They are bold and confident rather than anxious.
Another important area is accepting responsibility. As the head of your business, you are ultimately responsible for every aspect of its well-being. When things don’t go perfectly, it can be easy to want to shift blame to other people or external circumstances. Avoid this pitfall. Effective leaders are accountable for the results. Instead of placing blame they look for areas they can improve. They look at what they need to do differently to produce the desired results.
Effective leadership can be seen in a variety of different ways, and these are just a few of the habits a good leader needs to be effective. For more information check out some of Simon Sinek’s TED Talks on leadership or listen to Michael Hyatt’s podcasts.