Anyone who is in a position of leadership must be able to exhibit the
following qualities in this article. From a parent to an employer to a
politician, these leadership qualities are essential to being a good
leader.
LEARN TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY
A leader that cannot communicate his or her passion, plans, goals, or
vision will invariably flop. Without the ability to convey your vision,
desires, goals, or passion to those who are following your lead, you
will lose them either to confusion, a competitor, or through frustration
and even bitterness.
Words are the most valuable tools in a leader's toolbox. Words can
motivate the languid one, encourage the dishearten one, strengthen the
weary, bring hope out of darkness, establish relationships, give
direction to the confused, bring understanding to the ignorant one, and
promote ideas to everyone. A good leader has learned to wield words
gracefully and effectively.
This is not a skill that is intrinsic to our nature. It is one that
needs to be learned. Learning how to solve misunderstanding, convey
ideas correctly, mediate disputes, and endear people to your vision is
something that is gained with time and experience.
Find books on communication. Read them. Learn to communicate well.
YOU MUST HAVE A VISION
No leader will ever be effective until he or she has a vision that has
gripped his or her life. Why would anyone follow someone who does not
really have an idea of where they are going?
Leadership for the sake of power or position always produces tyranny. If
your vision is merely power and control, you will produce rebellious
followers. Parents, pastors, employers, and politicians must beware that
their leadership position is not one of control and power else they
lose their right to lead. You must have a vision, a direction, a goal
that your followers buy into.
People follow people only when that person is going somewhere they
believe in. As the leader, you must never lose sight of your vision.
Some get enamored with the power that leadership affords, and where
there was once a strong vision, the leader loses sight of it and is now a
leader whose goal is merely to possess influence over others. This is
fatal to a leader. You will lose your followers.
A leader is not someone who gets behind his followers and pushes or
drives them. He is no longer leading at that point. A leader says, "This
is where I am going, if you want to go, come ahead! I'll help you get
there!" A good employer who is also a good leader has instilled in his
employees a desire to be part of and grow with his company. He has
instilled in them a desire to follow!
YOU MUST BE LOYAL TO YOUR FOLLOWERS
This is vital. We all know that loyal followers are essential to a
leader. But you gain that loyalty by first demonstrating loyalty to
them. A strong leader is loyal to those who have chosen to follow him.
Never dismiss your followers! Without followers, you would not be a leader.
