Hina Javed Malik
The qualities of true leaders have been observed throughout history. There have been some qualities that were adopted by bad leaders while others were exhibited by good leaders. However, the characteristics of those in charge correlated with their ability to accomplish their goals. These are the traits that determine how much or how little the followers look up to their leaders.
In a US Presidential debate in 1984, President Reagan who was running for his second term was asked if he has the strength and energy to function like Present Kennedy in case of a national emergency. President Kennedy not only handled the Cuban missile crisis but also lead his nation gracefully in times of crisis.
One of the characteristics of a good leader is their ability to lead from the front and their ability to lead in crisis and make tough decisions for the betterment of people connected with them. It could be people of a particular country or people of an organization, the buck stops at the leader for their decision-making ability.
In contrast, no one likes a bad leader. These signs show how bad is your boss and how they can ruin your career. A bad leader is egoistic, does not want to come to the front and lead, has trust issues, and never encourages or believes in the people.
Fortunately, history is filled with leaders who portrayed great leadership qualities. Starting from the body language of men, the following are the few characteristics that develop admirable leadership strengths and make a person a great leader:
Honesty:
The greatest quality of a great leader is, to be honest in their words and actions. It is because when you are responsible for a team, it is extremely important to be straightforward in everything. The image you will portray to your employees will be reflected back to you so you need to keep an honest and ethical behavior to be a great inspiration for them.
Delegate properly:
An important quality of great leaders is that regardless of the position they are in, they recognize the value to delegate. They know clearly that delegation does more than simply pass the task to somebody else, it is something that makes employees believe that they are able to handle tasks that are given to them. ‘Hit Refresh‘, a book by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadela has amazing details about delegating authority to the people and leadership.
Better communication:
Communication plays a key role for leaders to work on their vision and achieve their goals. It helps leaders to establish a working relationship with their employees and to give them constructive feedback. It develops a broad understanding of the work they are assigned and the outcome that is expected from their efforts.
Commitment:
Leaders cannot lead successfully unless they get their hands dirty with their employees. When employees see their leader working with them equally, it gives them the motivation to work even harder and prove their commitment to the organization.
Having a positive attitude:
For a company to be successful, it is important that the person who leads keeps the energy levels high. No matter how tense the situation is, a great leader is expected to keep the office mood in a fine balance between productivity and playfulness. Having a positive attitude just increases your effectiveness as a leader and people follow you.
