There are as many definitions of leadership as there are leaders. The most important thing for you as a leader is to find your own definition of leadership which:
1. Is genuine and true to you
2. Inspires those around you to perform their very best
3. Delivers the results you have set out to achieve
Once you understand yourself as a leader, your leadership brand, then you can determine whether you want to make changes as a leader and develop a plan to get there.
Good leaders are made not born. If you have the desire and willpower, you can become an effective leader. Good leaders develop through a never-ending process of self-study, education, training, and experience. To inspire your people into higher levels of teamwork, there are certain things you must be, know, and, do. These do not come naturally, but are acquired through continual work and study. The best leaders are continually working and studying to improve their leadership skills
Leadership is a complex process by which a person influences others to accomplish a mission, task, or objective and directs the organization in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent. A person carries out this process by applying her leadership attributes (belief, values, ethics, character, knowledge, and skills). Although your position as a manager, supervisor, lead, etc. gives you the authority to accomplish certain tasks and objectives in the organization, this power does not make you a leader...it simply makes you the boss. Leadership makes people want to achieve high goals and objectives, while, on the other hand, bosses tell people to accomplish a task or objective
To help you be, know, and do, follow these eleven principles of leadership:
1. Know yourself and seek self-improvement. In order to know yourself, you have to understand your be, know, and do, attributes. Seeking self-improvement means continually strengthening your attributes. This can be accomplished through reading, self-study, classes, etc.
2. Be technically proficient. As a leader, you must know your job and have a solid familiarity with your employees' jobs.
3. Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions. Search for ways to guide your organization to new heights. And when things go wrong, they will sooner or later, do not blame others. Analyze the situation, take corrective action, and move on to the next challenge.
4. Make sound and timely decisions. Use good problem solving, decision making, and planning tools.
5. Set the example. Be a good role model for your employees. They must not only hear what they are expected to do, but also see.
6. Know your people and look out for their well-being. Know human nature and the importance of sincerely caring for your workers.
7. Keep your people informed. Know how to communicate with your people, seniors, and other key people within the organization.
8. Develop a sense of responsibility in your people. Develop good character traits within your people that will help them carry out their professional responsibilities.
9. Ensure that tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished. Communication is the key to this responsibility.
10. Train your people as a team. Although many so called leaders call their organization, department, section, etc. a team; they are not really teams...they are just a group of people doing their jobs.
11. Use the full capabilities of your organization. By developing a team spirit, you will be able to employ your organization, department, section, etc. to its fullest capabilities.
If you have a high degree of commitment in following the above leadership principles and have defined your goals as a leader, then the next questions to ask yourself are:
1. What is my plan to obtain the development and improvement goals I have set for myself? Then, create a specific timeline with specific benefits to you and those you lead, and put your plan into action.
2. What development options are available to me both within my company or externally? Be creative. Don’t forget the opportunities that special projects and job rotations can provide for your development as a leader.
Finally remember to be true to whom you are when you are implementing your development plan. Find what feels natural and comfortable to you when implementing changes. If you don’t, those around you will not view the changes as genuine and sincere and you risk losing your credibility as a leader.
Leadership is a complex process by which a person influences others to accomplish a mission, task, or objective and directs the organization in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent. A person carries out this process by applying her leadership attributes (belief, values, ethics, character, knowledge, and skills). Although your position as a manager, supervisor, lead, etc. gives you the authority to accomplish certain tasks and objectives in the organization, this power does not make you a leader...it simply makes you the boss. Leadership makes people want to achieve high goals and objectives, while, on the other hand, bosses tell people to accomplish a task or objective
To help you be, know, and do, follow these eleven principles of leadership:
1. Know yourself and seek self-improvement. In order to know yourself, you have to understand your be, know, and do, attributes. Seeking self-improvement means continually strengthening your attributes. This can be accomplished through reading, self-study, classes, etc.
2. Be technically proficient. As a leader, you must know your job and have a solid familiarity with your employees' jobs.
3. Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions. Search for ways to guide your organization to new heights. And when things go wrong, they will sooner or later, do not blame others. Analyze the situation, take corrective action, and move on to the next challenge.
4. Make sound and timely decisions. Use good problem solving, decision making, and planning tools.
5. Set the example. Be a good role model for your employees. They must not only hear what they are expected to do, but also see.
6. Know your people and look out for their well-being. Know human nature and the importance of sincerely caring for your workers.
7. Keep your people informed. Know how to communicate with your people, seniors, and other key people within the organization.
8. Develop a sense of responsibility in your people. Develop good character traits within your people that will help them carry out their professional responsibilities.
9. Ensure that tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished. Communication is the key to this responsibility.
10. Train your people as a team. Although many so called leaders call their organization, department, section, etc. a team; they are not really teams...they are just a group of people doing their jobs.
11. Use the full capabilities of your organization. By developing a team spirit, you will be able to employ your organization, department, section, etc. to its fullest capabilities.
If you have a high degree of commitment in following the above leadership principles and have defined your goals as a leader, then the next questions to ask yourself are:
1. What is my plan to obtain the development and improvement goals I have set for myself? Then, create a specific timeline with specific benefits to you and those you lead, and put your plan into action.
2. What development options are available to me both within my company or externally? Be creative. Don’t forget the opportunities that special projects and job rotations can provide for your development as a leader.
Finally remember to be true to whom you are when you are implementing your development plan. Find what feels natural and comfortable to you when implementing changes. If you don’t, those around you will not view the changes as genuine and sincere and you risk losing your credibility as a leader.
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