Leadership skills - How to be a good leader?
There are 2 types of people in the world: one is known as Leaders, and the other as Followers - according to Napoleon Hill (author of the world famous best-selling book Think and Grow Rich).
Of the Leaders, there are 2 forms of leaderships, including the traditional one: Leadership by Force (e.g. leaderships of the Kings, Dictators, etc.), and the new brand: Leadership by Consent of, and with the sympathy of the followers. In today’s business world, those who belong to the old school leadership must choose either to acquire an understanding of the new brand form or be relegated to the rank of the followers. Reason given is quite simple, men may follow the forced leadership temporarily, but they will NOT do so willingly. The second type leaders, those who really understand the followers and know how to let them co-operate with, will surely gain much higher respect and, of course, gain greater successes as a “by-product” of it.
To be a good leader, one should possess the following characteristics:
- Self-confidence, courage, and self-control. One whom cannot control himself can barely control others.
- Fairness. Definiteness of actions. The successful leader must plan his work, and work his plan. Also, he must be sure of himself and what he is doing to lead the others as well as always be fair on the job.
- Sympathy and understanding. Leader must sympathize and understand followers’ problems to support them when necessary.
- Willingness to assume full responsibilities. If one of the followers makes a mistake, the leader must consider that it is he who failed, not the follower, and must find the appropriate corrective and preventive solutions.
- Details-orientation.
- Co-operation.
On the other hand, there are some major causes of failure in leadership, including:
- Inability to organize details. Leader should not be ever “too busy” to do anything which may be required of him in his capacity as leader. In case he admits that he is “too busy” to change his plans, or to give attention to any emergency, he admits his inefficiency. A good leader must acquire the habit of relegating details to capable followers.
- Unwillingness to do trivial things. Truly great leaders are willing to perform any sort of labor when necessary. There should be no complaints such as “That is not the task of a leader, like me.”
- Impracticality. The world does not pay men for that which they “know”. Instead, it pays for what they “do”, or induce others to do.
- Fear of competition from followers. It is an eternal truth that men get more pay for their ability to Get Others To Perform than they could possibly earn by their own efforts. An efficient leader may greatly increase the efficiency of others, and induce them to render more service and better service than they could without his aid.
- Lack of imagination leads to the incapability of creating plans to guide his followers efficiently.
- Selfishness. The really great leader claims NONE OF THE HONORS. Instead, he contented to see the honors go to his followers, because most men will work harder for commendation and recognition than they will for money alone. Besides, it’s technically the great contributions of the followers’ which create success, in most of the cases.
- Disloyalty. The leader who is not loyal to his above or below cannot long maintain his leadership.
- Emphasis of the “Authority” of Leadership. A real leader will conduct his sympathy, understanding, and a demonstration that he knows his job, he does not need to advertise his “authority”.
- Emphasis of “title”. The competent leader requires no “title” to give him the respect.
In brief, everyone could become a good leader if s/he really wishes to be, albeit not easy at all to make him a truly efficient one. With self-confidence, courage, loyalty, and self-control, leader could easily get the respect from the followers. A good imagination with details-orientation mindset is required to practically plan the tasks, set the goals and objectives for the whole team. Plus, leader must sympathize and understand the followers’ problems, willing to co-operate with (and support) them when occasion demands, and always be fair on the job. Whenever there is a success, leader should realize it the great contribution of followers as an encouragement. Leader does not need “title”, “authority”, or things alike to force followers to do something.
Always keep in mind that the primary mission of a leader is to “induce others to do the job”. Respect the followers and they will respect you consequently.
Kindly refer to Think and Grow Rich (Napoleon Hill) section 7 for more details.