Are You in a Leadership or Management Position?
Do you consider yourself to be a natural born leader?
While most of us work our way up to the top of the leadership ladder or just have a natural instinct for leading, there are a number of traits that help to understand leadership in general, and what it means to lead.
While some of these traits come naturally, they can also be learned if enough effort and dedication are put into them. Wondering what they are? Here are a few that have been deemed as some of the top leadership traits around…
“It’s perilously easy to find a leadership brand and stick to it, without considering how you can improve and expand your skills. But even the best leaders can learn a thing or two about how to inspire their team”.
16 Leadership quotes to Inspire You to Greatness by Ilya Posen
- Honesty: No matter what article you read or how many you read, honesty will always be listed as a trait that makes a good and effective leader. Honesty exists on a kind of ethical and moral plane, which also plays into communication. Honest leaders will be able to be clear when it comes to employee and workplace expectations, as well as how they handle themselves in various situations. But honesty is much more than words when it comes to someone’s ability to lead. Honesty is also shown through actions. For instance, an honest leader will make ethical, safe business decisions that aim to benefit the entire company, rather than make reckless decisions that could leave some people hurt or in bad situations.
- Open & Willing to Communicate: When it comes to any sort of relationship, whether personal or professional, communication is key. Leaders who are able to communicate in a positive, open, and constructive manner are more successful than those who don’t. Good communication skills also allow for a more consistent workflow to be completed, seeing as everyone will know just exactly what they are accountable for. But this also goes further than a leader being able to delegate specific tasks. It also encompasses how they relay information in certain situations. An effective leader will be able to give their employees constructive criticism in such a way to elevate that person and motivate them to do a better or different job the next time around. This also goes in the opposite direction – an important aspect of being open to criticism and communication means that leaders themselves won’t take certain things personally, and will entertain any criticisms or rejections to their ideas.
- To be continued…
About Steve Giles
Co-owner/Co-founder of Intesi! Resources. Educated as an architect I transitioned to technology during my career in architecture. Intesi! Resources was founded in 2004 and my focus is everything Web/eCommerce related from the design and development of our site to all the marketing activities involved. I also provide significant support for our clients on all our products and how they are used to deliver assessment-driven learning solutions that develop self-awareness and interpersonal skills.
