Today, every business is looking for leaders. People who can manage demand for and supply of a company’s products are no longer enough. Companies need and want people who can lead them into new areas and who can help them gain an edge in the brutally competitive world market-place. But where will these leaders come from ? Experts are sharply divided over whether leadership can be taught, at least in classroom. They do agree on some of the basic qualities of a leader, however.
A leader has vision and sets goals. Vision is the ability to see into the future, to see where the company can go and how it can get there. Leaders clearly state not only the firm’s mission but also the plans that will enable subordinates to accomplish these goals.
A leader takes risks. Change and failure are threatening to most people, especially traditional managers. Leaders see changes as opportunities and failures as lessons learned.
A leader hires leaders. Self-confident leaders are not afraid of hiring other leaders or of grooming subordinates to become leaders. Leaders are afraid of hiring mediocre managers.
A leader delegates. In today’s competitive world, no one can do it alone. By definition, a leader is a person who has followers.
A leader trusts and is loyal to subordinates. Trust begets trust and loyalty begets loyalty. A manager who accepts a raise while cutting staff is not a leader. Leaders are willing to work shoulder to shoulder with their subordinates. They view their subordinates not as “human resources” to be manipulated but as people to be inspired. Leaders also have a degree of expert knowledge that inspires confidence and trust in their decisions.
A leader shares the glory. Leaders recognize that praise is the most effective motivator. It takes only minimal time and effort to give, but reaps major short and long term benefits.
A leader takes responsibility. Managers can sometimes get away with blaming subordinates for failures, but leaders know “the buck stops here”.
A leader is consistent in word and deed. Leaders know that a “Do as I say, not as I do” attitude is as poor an approach to motivating employees as it is to teaching children.
A leader has standards. Ethical behavior starts at the top. To be looked up to, a leader must set and follow high ethical standards. In setting standards for subordinates, leaders know that people generally live up (or down) to the expectations placed on them.
A leader is flexible. Leaders do not believe they are infallible. They are flexible enough to adapt to new information and circumstances. But they do not bend with every breeze. They stay on course and in focus.
