Who is a true Leader ?

Posted by Administrator on Sun, 24 Jan 2010

He is a visionary

A leader must have a vision. It must be a vision that can be achieved. He not only shares his vision but leads the way. He knows how to reach his goal.

The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet -Theodore M. Hesburgh

He Communicates

He communicates with his people. He respects their suggestions and understands their expectations. He instills confidence into the minds of his followers that they start trusting him.

Build a reputation for expertise and a track record of achievement that teams members and your peers will come to respect, value and trust.

He is confident and trusts others too.

A leader is confident of his actions. The followers can follow him without any suspicion in minds. He is not only confident of himself but trusts people. Others feel proud that the leader trusts them. Any sneaky feeling that creeps like’ he doesn’t trust me’ ruin the relationship and affect progress.

The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it
- Theodore Roosevelt

He encourages

A leader encourages his subordinates. The followers always feel that the leader is there for them in times of failures and disappointments. Every single word that proceeds out of his mouth will affect people positively or negatively. He knows how to deal with unproductive people instead of just blaming everyone.

He does not intimidate

If your people get intimidated by your presence, you are not the leader they admire or want to follow. Intimidation may seem OK externally but people will mock at you in your back. Creating fear will result in hatred and bitterness.

He empathises

The leader must be endowed with the power of empathizing. He must be able to see things through the eyes of a commoner. A leader with his power and money may be able to scorn at certain situations whereas an ordinary person may dread to face the same. Don’t expect your people to perform beyond their skills and abilities.

He creates an atmosphere for open and honest discussion

To achieve your goal, you need to get frank and candid feedback and you are responsible for creating such an ambiance. Don’t impose a plan on your people but present it to the forum and get the feedback. After altering the plan, everyone will accept it and follow. If you feel your employees come late to the office, call for a meeting. Explain the problem and call for action. Ask them to speak. You will achieve your goal easily the very next day. Instead you send a notice threatening people about the consequences they may face for late coming; you fall to hell bottom in their minds.

Enjoy mutually rewarding, co-operative working relationships with team members and peers. And enjoy the happy, energizing atmosphere that comes with this; Make good decisions under pressure, with the confidence that you’ve done the homework needed for these decisions to be right.

He is available

A leader has adequate time for everyone. If a staff wants to meet you, you can never say that you are too busy. You fail to make a difference in his/her life. Spend time with your people. If the gap widens, you will find it difficult to gap it later. Share your people’s fears and eliminate from their minds.

He never forgets to appreciate and reward

Appreciation is an ideal gift you can ever offer to your employees. A simple phrase like ‘well done!’ will stay in their minds forever. This appreciation fuels him/her to do much better in future. A person with higher IQ may accomplish greater things but a person with lower IQ and caliber may not be able to do the same but may do something good within his limits. Don’t differentiate the two. Everyone deserves your appreciation.

Learn to inspire and motivate team members so that they'll "go to the ends of the Earth" to give their very best

He takes responsibility

A leader must be a part of all teams in the organization though he is not present always. Don’t take credit just for the successes but also for the failures. If your team fails, it is your failure. You can not condemn the team for their lack of dedication. Keep people on target and performing well together in a “firm but fair way” that gets the job done while respecting the rights of team members.

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.
~ Peter F. Drucker

He strengthens relationships and shuns gossip

Encouraging gossips is the pit you are digging for yourself. Leaders who are interested in gossiping and spying fail to create the dynamic environment to win. When you listen to some complaint, call up the concerned person and talk one to one. If you try to corner a person after listening to a gossip, you create a world of betrayal and treachery. He knows to build the empathic, mutually trusting relationships needed for maximum team performance.

He is positive

People feel the positive smell of his character. He speaks positive words which fuels others’ performance. The situation may be gloomy but his optimism glistens.

His character is consistent. It doesn’t change every day. He is happy and energetic.

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