Blog: How to be a good leader

An assessment of the attribute required to be a good leader…

“Leadership is about inspiring people to do things they never thought they could” Steve Jobs said that and lived true to his belief too. A true leader doesn’t value personal glory as much as he does the collective achievements of the team he leads. To build word class teams a leader has to be one among the team and not someone perceived as sitting on a pedestal and issuing decrees. That top down style of management has no doubt seen its glory days. Now, the paradigm has shifted and a leader has to believe in and operate with a refined sense of democracy to gain the confidence of his team.

Let us glance at some of the attributes required to be a good leader:

Build trust and sense of security – Your team has to always have the confidence that you have their back and will support them in any action done in good faith. The trust should stem from a genuine interest in them as a person and their growth trajectory. It is your responsibility as a leader to remove roadblocks that prevent their progress and help them achieve what you expect out of them. Underplaying their failures and amplifying achievements goes a long way in building and sustaining team morale.

Be a good listener and communicator – The best way to show you value them and their contributions is by giving them undivided attention. Good listening skills are a necessary attribute for a leader. A problem when addressed while it is just a whisper will never get the opportunity to be a noise that can drown progress. To be able to communicate correctly is of equal importance. To practice responding instead of reacting is a way to prevent misunderstandings. The urge to react immediately without well thought out opinions can cause damage which is not easy to repair. Taking some time to think and respond assertively without being aggressive is what a true leader does.
Be accountable and responsible – when you lead a team, success and failure is not just yours. It reflects on and affects the entire team. The converse is also true. If a team succeeds or fails the leader also gets impacted with it. Confidently accepting responsibility for outcomes and being accountable for them can be very inspiring for the team. This would also build confidence in the team to take decisions and explore options out of their comfort zones within their defined roles.
Delegate – As businesses grow and flourish it is impossible for one person or a few persons to handle multiple roles. Also over time team members gain a considerable amount of knowledge in their field of operation. A good leader would leverage that and delegate appropriately to the right people. Not being caught up in the micro management of the enterprise, frees up time for working on innovation and crucial areas that could propel the business towards bigger milestones.
Encourage and reward creativity – Appreciation is what humans crave. To be appreciated for the good work done without someone trying to grab their credit is an ideal work environment for most people. It is said people don’t leave their jobs but their bosses. Job attrition is significantly reduced in work environments that foster creativity. A leader who showcases the talent and creativity stimulates her team and nudges them into giving more of themselves into their jobs.
Strive to be a role model – Humans are wired to imitate a behavior that they find appealing. So when you as a leader take decisions and operate with confidence, your team is more inclined to behave in the same way. Regular feedback and involvement is required to shape the team into a level which is aligned to the vision you have for your business. It also helps to do a lot of self work and fine tune your awareness to achieve the qualities that you want to see reflected in your team. Be the change you want to see.
Innovate – Stagnancy is one the biggest dangers that a business can face. Innovations are the only way to get ahead in a highly competitive global market and to also avoid a business plateau. To increase and record profits that eventually benefit the team is the core responsibility of a leader. Innovation also help in making good use of the technological developments that world has to offer; thereby bettering the efficiency, productivity and reach
Learn from failures – consistent success is only a mirage. All businesses have phases of waxing and waning. Similarly, you and your team members also face challenges and failures in the course of operation. To not be demotivated by it or let it percolate to the team is crucial. A failure is not the end of a road. Every failure is an opportunity to learn and move towards achieving greater heights. This same attitude has to be fostered in the team to promote growth and progress.
Be a coach to your team – consistent and systematic involvement in team development and scheduled coaching has to be gold standards that guide your business. 360 degree feedback helps in course correction. The leader stands to benefit hugely when the caliber of the team improves. A selfless, non dismissive coaching style coupled with appreciation can be a great asset. Knowledge carries muscle. As a leader, unlike your team, you have more time and opportunity at your disposal in creating knowledge wealth and in personal development. Your best contribution to the team is to let your learning permeate into the team. This is a sure fire way to build loyalty and trust in your team and to equip them to the challenges they face at work and in the personal sphere.
Have mentors to coach you – The more you learn, the more you learn that there is yet to learn. Learning is a continuous process. To have a qualified person guide you and help you make course corrections when required comes in very handy to ensure the success of your business in the long run. Often people feel that they know best for their business. It might be true at some level, but an unbiased perspective and someone to hand hold you in the crucial times is indeed valuable for the success of a business.

Leadership as a role has metamorphosed into being a very crucial part of management of modern businesses. It is not just a quality that one is born with as thought about in the last century. It is a learned skill which anyone can master with right guidance from the right sources.

Write in to us at harish@harishrao.world to optimize the strength of your team by scaling up your leadership skills. Work with our world class business coaches and avail their mentoring services to make a difference.