Custom Search
|
|
What Makes A Leader 'great'?
Among the best ways to measure success is to try to see ourselves as others see us. Some of us are leaders, while others seem more content being a follower. The higher levels of success we spoke about above come from becoming an effective leader. In order to get to the top the respect of others is essential if we are to perform at our best; no one has ever reached the top by relying on themselves alone. That is why we need to examine carefully the type of relationship we decide to form with others . Of course it would be naive to assume that the majority of leaders in the business world are driven by a desire to assist others! Even so the best companies to work for all have something in common with the best people to do business with; they have both an atmosphere of mutual regard and decency and include sound and good ethics among their most important guiding principles. Being a good leader calls for hard work, but it will be worth it, because people will be much more likely to go the extra mile for you if they respect you and your principles. It is important to recognise that this does not mean you should be a pushover, for that is but another extreme. If you are seen as too easy going, that is counter productive as it will be taken as a sign of weakness. Never should business be allowed to become too cosy either; a good leader is able to command respect without being a autocrat or a push over. A good leader finds that people and opportunity are attracted to him like bees to a hive. This is because the good leader has attained the right balance of being just and fair, but also firm and practical when necessary. In the same way that the first priority of any captain is to put the interests of the ship entirely before anything else, so too does a successful businessman or manager put the interests of their enterprise or project before anything else. So what are the other secret elements of leadership? Among the most important is self belief. It should be pretty obvious that you are unlikely to get others to follow you if you do not have confidence in your own abilities. The display of confidence is essential for many reasons. Firstly, it gives a clear tangible presence of leadership - a rallying point for others. Secondly, it inspires confidence in others knowing that there is a strong hand at the helm. No better example of this can be found than the tradition among 19th and 18th century captains to remain an obvious presence on the deck of a ship right in the heat of battle - a tradition that cost the great Lord Nelson his life but inspired his men to victory and beyond. Thirdly, confidence produces an air of invincibility in negotiations and other high pressure situations. Keep your composure and you will enjoy the benefits that confident, clear decisiveness will bring. It is said that the 'devil is in the detail' and that is why, as a leader you must become a 'jack of all trades' in every aspect of your profession or business . There must be not a single aspect of your organisation that you are not familiar with; you must be prepared to ask questions, study and do copious research. Stay abreast of all the most topical issues; make sure that there is no part of your role or organisation where you can not advise or comment. A wise man once said that knowledge is power, and it is true. With knowledge you gain leverage among others. The experts you liaise with will respect you for the trouble you have taken in getting to know matters you are not expected to understand. The more strings you add to your bow – the more confident you will become in all of your daily activities. This also sets a good example to everyone else you are associated with. It should inspire others to confound expectation and become greater. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Additional information, help and a free video are all available at www.achieveselfconcidence.com |
|