An effective leader must have a number of characteristics. These qualities include trustworthiness, influence, and courage. However, these traits are not easy to develop. A great leader must be able to balance these characteristics. These traits are important for success in any industry. If you have the qualities of an effective leader, you’ll stand out from the rest of your peers.
Characteristics of an effective leader
As the name suggests, an effective leader invests in people. He or she trains and develops his or her followers to do the same. A poor leader is not invested in the people around him. An effective leader appreciates the strengths of everyone and recognizes that they are all valuable. He or she does not feel threatened by the people around him or her.
An effective leader is organized and has a clear structure of procedures. The challenges that face leaders are many and often, the resolutions are not obvious. Methodical leadership is essential to the success of any enterprise. Moreover, an effective leader communicates with people at a personal level.
Influence
Influence is the power to change someone’s behavior. When someone is in a position of power, they tend to do things that are in their best interest. For example, a leader can use influence to increase employee engagement. They can do this by giving them authority over their work. This Scot French can lead to increased engagement and higher performance. Influence also continues to have an effect even when the person no longer has power.
Both power and influence are necessary to be a good leader. The difference is that power allows the leader to impose his or her will upon others, while influence is the ability to influence others to do what they want. Influence allows leaders to build trust and help people feel that they are doing the right thing.
Trustworthiness
To be an effective leader, it is crucial to be trustworthy. In a world where people are increasingly suspicious of the government, the media, and even other business leaders, trustworthiness has become an essential quality. Leaders who lack trustworthiness are liable to be vulnerable and waste time avoiding change.
To become trustworthy, leaders must understand and value their own values and beliefs. Knowing their own values allows them to be consistent, and consistency breeds trust. According to psychologist Todd Kashdan, who wrote The Upside of Your Dark Side, embracing discomfort is an important quality for a trustworthy leader. Being honest and open about one’s own shortcomings is important to gaining trust.
Courage
Courage is a key element of effective leadership. A courageous leader acknowledges and respects the feelings and fears of others and is open to constructive criticism. Courageous leaders encourage others to share their opinions, and they often hire people who are willing to bounce back from mistakes. They are the ones who motivate their people to achieve their full potential.
Courage is a quality of mind and spirit. A leader who has courage leads by principle and does not shirk from bold actions because they are afraid of failure. They do not seek external acclaim or rejection, but instead face the problem head-on. Without courage, an organization will not be able to grow and may even fail.
