If you have been in the workforce longer than a few years, you probably have already met two types of management: the great bosses, and the ones you wish had been. You may have even liked the ones who missed the mark. It wasn’t really anything horrible, but they were lacking in at least one quality needed for good leadership. You might not even have realized which trait was missing, but you could see the results.
As a leader, you probably can identify the bosses you worked best under, and those who make you struggle. You should be able to find those same issues if you have them, and determine to work on them now, so they don’t hinder your performance.
Here are a few impressive traits which good leaders possess:
- CONFIDENCE: It is difficult to circle the wagons around a leader who isn’t sure what they are doing. A great leader is sure of the next steps, and this makes you willing to follow.
- TEAM-BUILDERS: An able supervisor can bring an unlikely group of people together, and end up with a functional team. This team can produce results over and over, proving it isn’t a fluke, but is truly a management feat. The more eclectic the team members are, the more fun it is to try to mold them into something effective and creative. A good leader can find the strong traits of each person and combine them into workable partnerships.
- ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY: With a great leader, there is no innuendo. There are no veiled threats, or ghost messages sent to a whole crew when only one person is at fault. A true leader will deal one on one with issues, and make sure the proper person hears the message, while not wasting the time of the rest of the staff. By saying what they mean, and meaning what they say, they gain the respect of the ones who follow.
- GOAL-ORIENTED: Not only is a leader working toward their own goals and achievements, but they are constantly striving to set possible goals for their team. These goals are not only production based, but are also used to motivate the troops.
- INSPIRING AND MOTIVATING: When a leader is doing their job well, they make others want to do the same. They make everyone believe that it can be done, and will be done, and that they want to be a part of it. Leading by example is one of the most motivating things you can do.
- FAIR AND BALANCED: Most employees will tell you that nothing else matters, if this one isn’t there. Nothing busts morale faster than seeing one teammate treated differently than the rest. To gain the respect of the teams, make each person equally important, and treat them with equal respect.
- PREDICTABLE: Be consistent. What is true one day is true the next. Stability is necessary for employees to feel confident in their leadership.
As you read this, did you see things that you may be strong in, or perhaps lacking? If you are in leadership, or are hoping to be, these are the most important traits to develop if you want to be an effective leader.
MG (Retired) Mike Diamond is CEO and founder of Diamond Strategy Group. Diamond Strategy Group is a leadership development and consulting company. We focus on improving the quality of leadership within organizations by utilizing the same methods Mike and his consultants have used in both military and civilian sectors.
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