“Leadership is about vision and responsibility, not power.”- Seth Berkley
There are thinkers, and there are doers. And so many times, in the constant race to that almost never reachable and imaginary finish line, we come across a few people who, from behind all the chaos, bring about a sense of stability and excellence.
These people who derive a sense of ownership and get the work done are what we call ‘leaders’.
As I grew up and took part in various debates, I often was given a topic to speak on topics such as, “Person who is your role model” or “Who is the person who inspires you the most?” To come to think of it, both these questions can have a number of answers.
As a child, I was influenced a great deal by my parents. Then as I stepped out of the boundaries of the house and got into school and college, I looked up a great deal to a few teachers who went out of their way to do so much more than just teach.
Now that I have progressed into the professional world, I realize that the meaning and definition of a leader are multifaceted.
Be it your parents, your teacher, friends, managers, or famous personalities, a leader can come to be known in many forms and can wear many hats.
Those of you who feel the same as I do might also agree that after the time you spend at home, the maximum time that you spend is at your workplace. It goes without saying that what we do at work and how we get treated makes a great deal of difference to our normal life.
I’d be lying if I said that having a manager who is a great team player and a leader who leads by example doesn’t make things easy at the workplace.
And according to polls and surveys conducted at various organizations, it has been found that most of the time, people don’t leave organizations; they leave managers.
There is a very thin line between being a leader and being a dictator. And, as thin as this line is, it often happens that even the best of leaders cross this fine line and become unnecessarily authoritative.
If you are new to the world of leadership and need to make a great instant impact on your team, here are some compelling tips that can help you make a great leadership atmosphere:
1. Lead by Example
Leaders often hear that they expect their team members to do the work that they have never fancied doing themselves.
It is understandable for a leader to expect their team to obey orders given to them. But at the same time, it is important for a leader to constantly reflect upon when they grew from scratch and reached the position they are currently in.
So be an inspiration, not someone who is feared. Lead by example and show them what it means to be a leader for all the right reasons.
2.Motivating the Team
A leader’s responsibility is to know each of their team members and also identify who’s good at what. A big issue nowadays is that most team members’ hard work often goes unnoticed. This only reduces morale.
After all, who wouldn’t like to feel appreciated and recognized? One of the most important attributes of a good leader is one who constantly motivates their team to do better and breaks the stereotypes of what is otherwise deemed impossible.
3. Give Your Team the Chance to Be the Doers
Nobody becomes a leader overnight. As a leader, you need to imagine how you felt when your leaders did not give you the opportunity to perform and prove yourself. There is nothing more irritating than being in a job where there is nothing new to learn.
When one becomes a leader, it is important to delegate and give a chance to your team to take on different responsibilities and challenges. Prepare them to be able to work on the tasks assigned to them.
4. Communicate, Cooperate, and Coordinate
Probably the most effective way of getting things done is by ensuring that communication channels are kept open for one and all. Gone are the days when leaders had cabins shut by closed doors. Open-door policies break the fear of designation and make leaders more approachable.
This makes it easier for the team to talk to the leader, and the leader will be able to communicate more easily and openly. This helps get work done and more effectively. People need a leader who they can consider as one of them.
Understanding
Being a leader is not easy, and it is definitely tougher to be accepted by your team with respect and trust. Nonetheless, following these steps can bring you a step closer to understanding what an ideal leader should be like.
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Would you like to contribute a post?
Long time ago we would read best sellers ‘How to… do this… and… how to… do… that’. The authors made millions. But none of that worked in real life.
Please, with respect to the concerned, are we back to those days where-in people suggest number of ways to become a good leader?
An English Dictionary has well over 12000 words describing goodness in entities. Over 1200 of them go on to detail goodness in living beings… and that includes the homo-sapiens as well. So… we take them up one by one… and turn ourselves into good boys and girls? I suppose… NO.
Just for example…. motivation is in the belly… that veritable fire in the belly. Who can motivate whom? My over three decades in the military taught me.. NO one can motivate anyone. It has to come from deep within. And the that happens… no one else is needed.