Monday 13 August 2012

Identify how influential you are as a Leader – Part 2


Identify how influential you are as a Leader – Part 2


You might also sometimes be tempted to engage in a coercive style of leadership when it's not absolutely necessary. Remember that forcing others to do things through the use of threats never works, regardless of how you view the situation.

You can probably build a stronger leadership presence by sharpening the skills and knowledge that are vital to your area of leadership. Make better use of the principles of reward and motivation; develop your soft skills to improve your interpersonal attractiveness, etc. This will magnify your influence as the liking of people toward you will surely increase.

Rightful power may be inherent in your role; you may understand the principles of reward and motivation; you may be able to take command when needed; and you likely possess some high-level skills and knowledge.

A leader who takes the time to listen to what others have to say is always appreciated by people. It's very motivational when someone gives you that respect and that respect is usually reciprocated. This is the start of great leadership.

There's always a scope of improving. Stay true to yourselves; learn to be even more outgoing, extrovert and more dynamic in a wider variety of circumstances with a wider range of people as it will help you to improve the leadership skills and your influence as well.

As individuals, you are bestowed with the ability to learn, grow and enhance every aspect of your abilities. By taking full advantage of this, you will make the most of each new day and further your success.

Friday 10 August 2012

Identify how influential you are as a Leader – Part 1


Identify how influential you are as a Leader – Part 1

Your ability to influence others at work, at home and in your community determines the degree of your leadership qualities. The ability to influence is a great tool that can be further strengthened and refined. It requires an understanding of where your power lies and to what degree it matches the situation. After knowing about the source of your power, you can maximise its use more effectively and in the most appropriate way. This will in turn enhance the scope of your influence as a leader.

Noteworthy components of effectual leadership can be summarised as understanding your own leadership preferences, being open to experimentation, assessing your true level of genuine power, defining clearly the goals you wish to accomplish and knowing your audience.

Being in a position of authority is primarily one of responsibility. The level of authority you actually hold, and what type of people you lead and in which type of environment depend on the position that you hold.

You are a senior manager in your company, you have your set of duties to perform and lead the team for achieving the set goals. The questions that might arise are - Are you influential enough to give you the expected results? What is the best way you can influence the young leaders in your organisation to develop into potential leaders? And, are you contented with the way your team looks out to you in times of emergency?

Thursday 9 August 2012

Leadership Skills


Leadership Skills

Leadership skills have become the most essential parameter for a managerial position in any organisation. Good leadership skills are required for the success and growth of the company. An inexperienced leader can be groomed for the job, but an incompetent leader will be a miserable failure no matter how experienced he is. Getting ahead in business in a competitive and challenging environment requires you to be a good leader with the leadership qualities to make you stand out from the crowd.

Always remember, good leaders are good listeners. Learn to listen; it is an essential aspect that will help you to avoid making big blunders. Don’t assume you know what others say and think. Whether it’s a team meeting or a one-on-one conversation, put your entire focus on what is being said.

Showing off leadership skills does not mean bossing people around. Display your leadership qualities in your actions and your ability in taking important and tough decisions. Your main objective should be guiding people in doing what they need to do. Leadership is not about just talking and telling people to do things. To be a leader you need to be empathetic about those around you.

Wednesday 8 August 2012

Leaderships Tips


Leaderships Tips

Socialise with your co-workers. Good leaders must be able to connect with those they lead. Make them feel special by sending them motivational messages and messages on their special occasions. This effort will be appreciated and will certainly reinforce the belief of you being on top of everything. Treat everyone with the same courtesy and respect, irrespective of the position that they hold. Appreciate the value of every employee in your company.

Planning is another crucial attribute of leadership. A leader will enable his team to plan for success by instilling the planning and strategising attributes among his followers. A goal is impossible to reach unless it is backed by an effective plan. Good leaders teach their team goal setting techniques, and how to nurture a strategic plan for reaching the desired goals faster and in an efficient manner. Successful delegation is the most important leadership skill to have. If you are able to delegate various responsibilities well among the team, it will surely make your team effective. Delegate the tasks after knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each person on your team.

A leader establishes hope and motivation in his people. Your job as a leader is to play up the strengths so well that the weaknesses disappear. If playing your team members off one another is required, do it by filling in the gaps yourself. It’s an instant mantra for success. By polishing your leadership skills and putting them out there for everyone to see, you’ll catch the eye of the powers in your organisation. Start leading the people around you and discover a change in your life.

Monday 6 August 2012

Common Traits of Effective Leadership


Common Traits of Effective Leadership

A leader can efficiently express his confidence, assertiveness and his sense of responsibility. There is a unique personality profile for a natural born leader. It comprises a set of instinctive characteristics that can be studied and learned by those who feel they are inadequate in a leadership position. Examining these leadership traits will bring you closer to fully understanding what it takes to be successful at that position.

A good leader must be sociable, he should have a good nature, must be extrovert and outgoing. People tend to follow those who are in higher spirits.

Another leadership quality portrayed by a good leader is self-confidence which is related to being self-assured, certain, brave, fulfilled, self-reliant and poised. High confidence allows the leaders to deal successfully with challenges. Their self confidence permits them to take decisions, handle all types of situations, set an example for everyone and articulate the thoughts and opinions.

A great leader should be assertive when it comes to decision making, a leader cannot afford to falter in such circumstances, he needs to lead without hesitation and without the risk of losing the confidence of his subordinates. For this he must be persuasive, influential, headstrong, opinionated, possibly argumentative and hostile. He must avoid being stubborn in such situations that demand quick actions and decisions.

A leader must be bold enough to function normally even in unfamiliar environments, he should be quick to accept challenges and have a will to take risks to accomplish their objectives. When important and tough decisions need to be made, it is the leaders that are bold who triumph.

Friday 3 August 2012

Leadership Accountability and Responsiveness


Leadership Accountability and Responsiveness

Accountability and responsiveness is another trait of effective leadership. A good leader should take accountability of all his actions and decisions, whether right or wrong.  In addition, the leader should also be dominant, influential, controlling, commanding, directing and authoritative with a very strong desire to influence and direct others.

Never stop the learning process, always seek self-improvement that will strengthen your leadership attributes. This can be accomplished through various formal classes, training programs, self-study and interacting with others.

Set the example and be a good role model for your employees and followers. Effective leadership is about focusing on opportunities and not complaining about things you cannot change. Focus on what you can do and take responsibility.

Effective communication is a must for a leader. He should not hesitate in reaching out to people who have different perspectives. The art of communicating with people who have different views requires a good leader to be patient while explaining his thoughts, it also exposes him to new ideas or perspectives he may have not encountered otherwise.

By studying and deliberately making an effort to practice these traits in various environments, anyone can improve their leadership skills and emerge as an effective leader. Mastering these traits will lead the path of success at work, home, and eventually in your well-being. Have an active leadership style, and be quick enough to take control of situations.

Assume the role of a leader naturally and enjoy the responsibility and challenge of being in charge!

Thursday 2 August 2012

Achieving The Pinnacle of Leadership


Achieving The Pinnacle of Leadership

The future of any organisation - a firm, an institute, a company or even a nation, is secure only in the hands of able leaders who have the abilities to influence the masses with their thoughts and actions. Effective leaders have the skill to listen, think, foresee, understand and act. They dare to dream and live to lead; they understand that success does not depend on their titles, but on the values they maintain and the choices they make on a daily basis. Leadership is not achieved through technical expertise; it is based on a sound relationship with people.

Self-serving leaders are not as effective because their employees only obey and follow them. The skills and knowledge processed by the leader can be influenced by his or her attributes or traits that include beliefs, values, ethics as well as the character. Knowledge and skills contribute directly to the process of leadership, while others contribute certain characteristics to the leader that make the leaders unique and different from others.

Leadership development must start at an early age. Introducing children to leadership traits through activities like team games will help them explore their hidden leadership signs. At the corporate level, leadership exercises can help identify true leaders in the organisation and sharpen the managerial skills they have.

Good leaders do not worry about excellence, they simply build it. They do not contemplate whether leaders are born or made, they believe in leading and with their virtue of self-reliance; they accomplish their aims and get them to the pinnacle of perfection.

Wednesday 1 August 2012

Leadership – From Good to Significant


Leadership – From Good to Significant

A leader is someone who has a vision; he has a dream and the passion to pursue it. With his effective analytical skills, decision-making ability and a go-getter attitude, he easily influences others to follow him willingly. Leaders are nurtured through a never ending process of self-study, education, training and experience. He possesses virtues like dedication, integrity, fairness and open mindedness to greet new ideas, thinks out-of- the box and takes initiatives for innovating.

The basis of good leadership can be attributed to honourable character and selfless service to your organisation. People follow good leaders as they have trust in their decisions; they want to be guided by someone who has a clear sense of direction and who can convey a strong vision of the future. They judge a good leader through his ethical ways.

In the corporate world, it is quite often asked whether all managers make good leaders. This opens doors to the concept of corporate leadership. Leadership portrays an integral part in the growth and success of any organisation. For managers to lead the organisation, they need to possess leadership skills like planning, organising, accountability, motivating the team, team building, delegating and effective communication. No matter if the company is small or large, it is vital to have good leaders. For this, leaders have to be created.

Yes, leaders can be made, by instilling in them, the qualities of a good leader.