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“I WANT TO LEAD FROM THE FRONT!”
Leadership has existed since time memorial, in all walks of life! But, few were born leaders; most of them were created! Each one learned something significant during his/her tenure and passed it on to the next generation. It is this concentrated knowledge that has now enabled organizations to come up with the idea of equipping people with leadership skills & Effective presentation skills. And for that, there are training classes and practical workshops.
Who is a leader?
As Theodore Roosevelt, a former president of the USA stated, "People ask the difference between a leader and a boss.... The leader works in the open, and the boss in covert. The leader leads and the boss drives." "Management means helping people to get the best out of themselves, not organizing things." This quote came from Lauren Appley. Need one say more, after reading these quotes?
Qualities for leadership that leadership training focuses on:
(1) Before you step into the “shoes of leadership”, ask yourself honestly, “Do I have what it takes to lead from the front?” Your objective self-assessment of strengths and weaknesses paves the pathway for taking command over yourself, as well as commanding others!
(2) Okay, now that you have taken over the mantle of leader, the next step is to get together the best team that you possibly can. This can be a little tricky since you can only select the most capable personnel for the various tasks that need to be done. Those who are left out will need their ruffled feelings to be soothed in as sensitive a way as possible! Past experience, previous training, capacity to take up additional responsibilities—these are what you are looking for.
(3) Now that you have got together a team of enthusiastic individuals, get down to planning. Put across your goals and objectives to the team. Your own thinking has to be very clear-headed—it would not do to cut a sorry picture in front of your audience!
(4) Your “plans” may meet with objections, criticism and open questions. Now, if you wish your projects to be successful, then open communication is the key. Listen patiently to what each one has to say, consult them for ideas—in short, allow straightforward discussion. Do not just “hand down” your thoughts, allow for plenty of interaction and involvement. In this case, too many cooks do not spoil the broth!
(5) Your communication skills depend on how positive your attitude is. Your demeanor should ooze confidence and credibility. The team members should feel proud that you have so much faith in their abilities. It prods even the shyest member to open up, and take part in open discussions about pros and cons. Give a hint of negativity, and your followers will be negative in attitude and thinking.
(6) Coming to the tasks themselves, there is no justification in trying to prove that you are a one-man army who can handle everything on your own. It is a leadership skill to keep only minimal tasks for yourself, and allot the other jobs according to individual capabilities.
(7) Once the projects are under way, do keep a respectable distance. Offer your advice and help only when asked for. At the same time, ensure that your team understands that you are an approachable person, and always there for them. So you see, it is a fine balance between interference and non-interference!
(8) Ah, now that you have distributed the tasks, you can sit back and relax! No way, you are meant to lead by example. You have to work as hard as your team. Otherwise, you are a boss, not a leader!
(9) On the journey towards the completion of the project, mistakes will be made (sometimes colossal), things may have to be redone, and so on! Do not lose your cool—such things are bound to happen! And there are solutions for everything. If one head cannot solve the issue, consult many heads! At the same time, if there is some person who has to be hauled up for things going wrong, tell him/her by all means—but in private. Nothing brings down a person’s self-esteem as much as being castigated in public. Conversely, praise should be handed out in public; this gives a boost to self-esteem!
(10) Please do not hog all the credit for yourself simply because you are at the helm! Give credit where it is due. This is the best way to earn long-term respect and loyalty. At the same time, be bold enough to take the responsibility for any failings or mistakes—you are the leader after all! Sounds a little rough, isn’t it? Distribute the bouquets, but take all the bricks!
(11) Courage is another quality that is expected from you. Decision-making is not an easy job. And it is not possible to satisfy every one at the same time. Come what may, if a certain course of action has to be taken, go ahead! At the same time, do your best not to tread on anyone’s sensitive toes!
(12) Change is essential to success. So be ready to accept changes. If you cannot deliver on your promises, do not make them.
(13) To sum up, you are a great leader when you have clear vision, good values, respect your team members, and are constantly willing to listen and learn from others. Most of all, ensure that the atmosphere is light and informal, allowing your team to have fun while going about their allotted tasks!