Thursday, September 13, 2018

The Difference

“People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. The leader leads, and the boss   drives. “(Theodore Roosevelt)

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” (Anonymous) It’s clear that many leaders are failing to foster a sense of trust and loyalty in their employees. Nearly one-third of employees don’t trust management.

Managers who show great leadership qualities can inspire their teams to accomplish amazing thing. On average, after graduating from college, a millennial will change jobs four times before they are 32. Most of them also don’t feel empowered on their current jobs.

Being a good leader isn't easy. A leader's actions shine through in the worst of times. It is these same qualities that employees look up to, respect, and work very hard for.  The best leaders exhibit certain qualities that make them successful. Here are five attributes from some of today's great leaders.

1.   Clarity: They are clear and concise at all times. There is no question of their vision and what needs to be accomplished. This gives others the opportunity to digest their goals and decide whether or not they will support their cause. Very few people know what they want much less how to get there so they will gravitate towards those who appear to have a clear picture in mind. Good clarity leads to great achievement.

 
2.   Courage: Boldness is both something you can develop and something that is blessed as a virtue. Although some people are naturally more fearless than others, practicing how to be fearless (or at least project fearlessness)-is a completely doable task one many have achieved in order to fulfill their role as an amazing leader.

  

3.   Decisiveness: Once a leader has made up their mind they don't hesitate to commit completely. They show great consistency with their decisions rarely backing out or changing their minds unless it is absolutely necessary. Decisiveness shows commitment, a quality very high in demand for a great leader.

 

4.   Humility: While confidence is a very attractive trait in leaders, there's nothing like a humble character for creating a lovable persona. Great leaders admit when they are wrong and take criticism as an opportunity for growth. Show the world how grateful you are to be where you are. This, in turn, will demonstrate how much you deserve the leadership role.

 

5.   Passion: There's nothing more inspirational than seeing someone who cares about what they do. The best leaders exhibit boundless energy and passion for what they do. Don't be shy about your passion for whatever it is you are leading. As long as you are passionate about what you know, or (care about)  it'll shine through and people will follow.

 “Leaders become great (not because of their power) but because of their ability to empower others.” (John Maxwell)[i]



[i] Sources used:
·        “5 Essential Qualities of a Good Leader” by Peter Economy
·        “8 Essential Qualities That Define Great Leadership” by Kimberly Fries
 
 

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