A leader is the guiding star of his team. The success or failure of a team primarily depends on the qualities of the team leader because a leader is directly responsible for guiding and influencing his team to achieve a common goal. A leader is also responsible for setting challenging goals for the company and guiding his people to achieve the goals. The main role of a leader is to inspire his team, guide and motivate them so that they can perform at their highest level. A leader is also responsible for establishing a clear vision, clearly sharing the vision with his team and providing them with all kinds of support and resources to achieve the vision. Delegation, creativity, integrity, agility, communication etc., are the most common traits of effective leadership.
Unfortunately, bad leader leaders also exist in the workplace. They behave in bullying, combative, or otherwise toxic ways leading to employees’ lack of faith, enthusiasm, and engagement. Working under a toxic boss is a horrible experience. Therefore, ineffective leadership is unexpected by the employees and the organizations. So, this blog will discuss eight traits of effective leadership that can help an organization to achieve its vision successfully.
8 Traits of Effective Leadership
Leading a team effectively is a difficult task. A team consists of people of different natures. A leader has to understand the psychology of every individual and treat them accordingly. Every good leader must possess some qualities that help him to guide and motivate his team members to bring out the best of them. Some important traits of leadership are team building, solution providing, positive thinking, creativity and so on. Here are eight traits of effective leadership that may help to manage a team in the best possible way.
Team Builder
Building a strong team is perhaps the most crucial task of a leader. A great team can result in great teamwork. When there is a good bonding among the team, the team members feel comfortable working together. However, team building is a continuous process and a good leader does not take team-building lightly. They create an environment of open communication for the team members in their everyday work. An efficient leader also works with the individual employee to guide them on how to use their individual skills to the groups’ advantage. Moreover, a leader discovers the skills of an individual employee of this team and assign them the role they are best suited for. It helps every team member to perform their best.
Solution Provider
The primary goal of a leader is to minimize the occurrence of problems. But still many problems arise while working together. Many times a leader has to deal with problems like office politics, self-promotion, power-plays and ploys, lack of budgets and resources, challenges from the competitors and many others. A leader should provide the solution to every single problem of his team members. Some leaders are afraid of problems. Sometimes when any problem arises, the leader often complicates the matter without solving it. It not only damages team bonding but also reduces the work efficiency of the team. So, a leader must be resilient enough to face any problem and provide the best solution.
Creative
Creative leadership as a philosophy embraces change as a given while seeking opportunity everywhere. A creative leader focuses on developing creative and innovative solutions. They have a better understanding of the changes in the external and internal environment the helps them to develop a new vision that drives success. Creative leaders always think outside the box and encourage their subordinates to learn, grow, and bring forth new ideas. They always bring the best solutions to deal with uncertainty and challenges. A creative leader observes things more keenly than others. They also encourage their team members to unleash the courage, collaboration, and creativity to contribute more to the company.
Positive Thinker
A leader must think positive. The attitude of a leader directly impacts his team members. If the subordinates find their leader as a negative person it can lower their confidence. As a result, their productivity can be reduced. Therefore, the negative attitude of the leader can obstruct the success of a team no matter how hard they try. Positivity has a great impact on others too. So, positive leaders also encourage their subordinates to think positive. They empower their subordinates, care for them and show compassion when they struggle.
Empower Subordinates
A leader trusts his subordinates and empowers them to take action and make decisions within their work area. Instead of micromanaging, a leader shares his goal with his team members and guide and motivate them to achieve it in their own ways. Good leaders allow their employees to make mistakes because they believe that it will help the employees to grow. However, in that case, they set a clear difference between acceptable mistakes and unacceptable mistakes. It helps them to set generous boundaries for the team members.
When a leader empowers his subordinates with decision-making authority it increases the growth, creativity, trust and overall satisfaction amongst employees. Ultimately, empowering employees creates an effective work environment that enables employees to perform more effectively resulting in a higher profit for the company.
Develop personal relationships
Keeping their ego aside, leaders build a personal relationship with their team members. It helps them to understand the subordinates on how they feel about their work. Good leaders encourage constructive criticism and they allow their subordinates to give feedback. They closely work with each individual and guide them to achieve their goal. They also help their subordinates regarding their professional development and growth. Instead of treating them as machines, a leader treats his employees as human and responds empathetically. This promotes teamwork, collaboration and success.
Influence people
The ability to influence people is a crucial leadership skill. Some people confuse influence with power and control. But it is not the same. Influencing people means creating an impact on others behavior, attitude and choice. It doesn’t happen by force or imposing power. It entirely depends on the credibility of a leader. Stephen Covey described four fundamental elements to establish credibility which are I) integrity ii) intent iii) capabilities and iv) results.
An influential leader promotes himself by promoting his team. They make all the future opportunities visible to his team members so that they can be inspired. However, they build and maintain the whole process on the foundation of trust
Change Maker
“Leaders do not conform; they reform. If you conform, you are nurturing mediocrity. If you reform, you are breeding change.” ― Israelmore Ayivor, Leaders’ Ladder
Leaders always spot the opportunity that can bring better outcome. They also inspire their subordinates to join their change making journey. They don’t wait to make thing perfect. Instead, they capitalize every tiny opportunity of innovate new things.
Summary of Effective Leadership Traits
Technical skills and college degrees are not enough for effective leadership. It also requires some qualities and soft skills to be an effective leader. Technical skills and degree will make someone a boss. But boss and leader are not the same. There is a huge difference between a leader and a boss. Toxic leaders try to get things done by power and control but an effective leader inspire his team to achieve the target. Effective leadership is much influential and profound than the average leadership.
We are excited to know your opinion on the leadership traits. Please let us know about your opinion after reading this blog.
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