A leader is important because he/she can inspire others in a group or organization to achiever more and be better. A leader must have certain qualities that can turn her/him into a role model for others to follow and be respected. The different attributes can be learned through training and dedication.
1. Positive Attitude
Being the most significant characteristic that defines leadership, positive attitude is essential energy that a leader must have. Attitude is what shapes a leader. It’s not necessary that each member of a team will have the same approach, but imbibing a positive attitude in each of them can put an idea to life, regardless of the difficulty. Taking your group on an outing, offering snacks at work and appreciating each one without bias will keep them on track.
2. Accountability
Passing the buck on to others in situations challenged by failure is easy. But taking the responsibility of it and being accountable is what separates an employee from a leader. Accountability and Transparency go hand-in-hand. Larry Robins, a hedge fund maverick, once wrote an apology letter to his investors explaining about his failure to turn their funds into profit. Then, he started another hedge fund company without charging any brokerage free to his beloved investors to is what defines accountability.
3. Communication
Communication, as the definition goes, is the process of disseminating information from one party to another. A leader must have the ability to communicate the vision in mind to his/her team members in a more definite and precise manner. Even a small amount of gap in communication can lead to chaos. Hence, the communication of a leader must be clear and crisp so that the entire team shares the same vision and goals.
4. Focus
The more a leader is focused, the better the outcome of his/her engagement with the team. The subordinates will typically follow the point of discussion set forth by the leader. ‘Focus is a trait that defines the pace of productivity and commitment to the team towards work. Therefore, it is important for the leader to ensure that the focus is crystal-clear and priorities for the team are set early on. Distraction from focus will eventually lead to poor productivity and hindrance in triumphing the goals set to be accomplished.
5. Responsibility
A good leader is never afraid to take responsibility. Inculcating this value will not only show that you are accountable and transparent but also will inspire others to take responsibility for their share of actions. While parents have a responsibility to nurture their child and educate them, a politician should give good governance to people of his/her country. While a teacher has a responsibility to inspire learning, a CEO has the responsibility to lead and execute a company’s strategies, and achieve the long-term goals.
Conclusion
The universal myth that leaders are born and not made is no more accurate, given the examples of several great leaders we have today. There is no denying that everybody can become a leader, but it is true that not every leader can be significant. A leader is one who takes up those and completes in collaboration with his team. Hence success and real leadership are synonymous.
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