Effective leaders generally hold some of the same key skills which enable them to effectively motivate and inspire people while earning their respect.
Organisation
Though we tend to picture leaders as business executives, people hold leadership roles in various settings, such as home, school, and work environments that are not top level. Each leader that develops in any of these organizations does so because people are compelled to follow them.
Those who aspire to leadership can hone certain skills in order to strive toward their goal, but many leaders are simply born with the inherent ability to boldly step out in front of a group and take charge. Some common traits that make a leader successful are ambition, honesty, confidence, and business acumen. In order to lead and inspire others, a leader clearly needs to have the ambition to be the driving force behind the group. Honesty is important in gaining the trust of those around you. A certain level of confidence and even charisma magnetizes people and compels them to listen to you. All these would be for naught without the business knowledge to back them up.
These skills enable leaders to engage their teams and steer them in specific directions, which means that the leader also has certain responsibilities. What is expected of the leader who is a mentor to their team?
Integrity: Leaders use their personal talents in a way to benefit their entire organization or community, not just themselves. While each of us can name leaders that used others as stepping stones to their own success, a great leader will appreciate every member of their team and look out for the greater good.
Communication
Though they have a high level of skills and knowledge of their own, the best leaders will know how to also accept the input of their team through open communication. They are also responsible for communicating the team’s progress and ideas to those outside the group in a way that can be easily understood.
Balance: It is easy to get caught up in a job or project, but leaders have a responsibility to find balance and help their team members do the same. They should be committed to creating a better life, improving their community, and having a positive global effect.
Excellence
Responsible leaders strive to hold themselves to high standards through constant improvement and education. They understand their ability to inspire others to be the best that they can be, and they lead by example.
