- September 3, 2018
Qualities of an Effective Leader
I often ask myself “what makes me an effective leader?” I think many others also ponder this question. I can think of several leaders who influenced me growing up and still do today. One is the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He believed all people deserve the same rights and all people are created equal. His “I Have a Dream” speech remains one of the most powerful speeches in history. Senator John McCain was a great U.S. senator and a U.S. veteran. He always fought for his country and what he believed in. Both men used their leadership skills to create change.
Listed below are leadership qualities shared in a December 2014 post on Michael Page, an international recruitment consultancy firm based in the United Kingdom. These qualities apply to all industries. They certainly apply to the TouchPoint360 teams and the customers we serve.
Share Their Vision
Communicate a clear plan of how to accomplish goals. This includes informing each team member how his or her efforts contribute to achieving the collective goal.
Lead By Example
Be sure to set the right example for your team. You can establish credibility by working hard and setting high standards. This will build trust among the group and motivate others to follow your example.
Demonstrate Integrity
Always maintain your values and morals when making decisions. You will gain respect from others when they see you have a strong sense of character.
Communicate Effectively
Clear communication is a crucial leadership skill. Communication includes asking for questions, clarification, and new ideas.
Make Difficult Decisions
Making difficult decisions with limited information helps create effective leaders. When making a decision, be sure to consider the end goal. Take into consideration all consequences of the decision and evaluate all alternative routes. Being confident in your decisions will also help you earn respect.
Recognize Success
You can inspire others by recognizing achievements within your team. Employees need to see that their work is valued and appreciated. You will boost morale and encourage everyone to keep up the good work.
Empower Others
Strong leaders understand that others value autonomy. Communicate clear deadlines to each member of the team but allow them to control their own work.
Motivate and Inspire
Be passionate and enthusiastic with your team. You should reinforce how all efforts contribute to the success of a project.
Closing Thoughts
Leaders are learners. They learn from success, failure, assignments, books, classes, people, and life itself. Leaders are passionate about their beliefs and interests. They expend personal energy on whatever matters to them. Effective leaders inspire loyalty and goodwill in others because they themselves act with integrity and trust. Be decisive and impassioned as you continue being leaders.