What Makes a Great Leader?
In front of every great business or organisation, there's a great leader. So what are the qualities that make these top leaders rise above others?
Leadership can be defined as "being in a position of authority or control over a group or organisation". But effective leaders go beyond this basic definition, which could otherwise seem the same as management. The best leaders develop exceptional people skills on top of business savvy, as they consistently interact with their teams and other stakeholders to achieve company goals.
As Apple’s Steve Jobs famously said, "leadership is about inspiring people to accomplish what they thought they couldn’t do, whereas management is about persuading people to do what they never wanted to do".
Top Leadership Traits
Being a great leader isn’t something that comes easily. In fact, it often takes a whole career to cultivate. When you're at the point where you're continuously able to inspire your entire team towards a mission - well, then you're on the right path.
Below are the top leadership skills that leaders at all levels can refine in order to be more effective. It's natural that some will come easier for you than others, however the best leaders will work to develop all of them further.
VISION
The world’s greatest leaders all had one thing in common: a powerful vision not only for their own lives, but for making a change in the world around them. It might be local or global, but it is a picture of a future improved in some way. This type of vision can only come from having a purpose that is meaningful to you. It’s so crystal-clear, that you can make others see the vision too, and feel inspired by it.
FOCUS
Strong leaders keep their eyes on the prize. As Tony Robbins says: Where focus goes, energy flows. The best way to limit distractions is by planning for it – have a work strategy that keeps your environment conducive to focus. For example, leaders may block out time in their calendars as “focus times”. This allows them to deep-dive into their tasks for the day, while making themselves approachable at all other times.
CONFIDENCE
True leaders are confident in their abilities to influence stakeholders and move a company forward to the next level. But how do you project confidence? More than half of human communication comes from nonverbal cues. Know how to set the right tone as a leader by maintaining eye contact, good posture and not fidgeting. When you appear confident and composed – even if you don’t actually feel it – others will be more likely to believe in your abilities and follow your lead.
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Words have power. However, effective communication is a two way street: that often means closing your mouth and opening your ears. Deep listening and asking thoughtful questions shows that you care about your employees’ contributions.
RESILIENCE
Great leaders seem to have an inner strength, and enduring resilience. Usually this has been honed from taking life’s failures and turning them into lessons. To do the same, you need to have the right mindset, allowing you to see setbacks as opportunities for growth.
POSITIVITY
Truly great leaders often exhibit abundant positivity that inspires. They make a point to display optimism on a daily basis, keeping their teams energised. When you practice positive thinking, it becomes a powerful cognitive habit and allows you to reassure and elevate those around you.
HONESTY
Being honest is the only real way to make strong connections with others and build trust. Importantly, whatever your leadership role, those you interact with will be influenced by your code of ethics as their own benchmark. Always show your team how much you value honesty in your everyday interactions with others by setting a valuable example.
For more ways to further your leadership and self-development, check out the SR Australia Events page.
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