Leadership
Leadership is a task that demands a tremendous deal of work and skill to perform well. Few individuals can deny that there have been numerous excellent leaders throughout history. Some people are born leaders, while others learn to be leaders as they go through life. Individuals have different definitions of what makes an effective leader, but some characteristics are required for someone to be deemed unique. There are certain characteristics that characterize a great leader, regardless of whether a person is born with the ability to lead others or develops excellent leadership qualities through learning and experience. One feature that great leaders possess is the ability to inspire people to do various things (Nahavandi, 2016). Inspiration is achieved in many ways such as eloquent speaking, being skilled at rhetorical language, and ability to form interpersonal relationships. No matter the channel they use, great leaders demonstrate the ability to attract people through their words or deeds.
Team Building and Culture
Outstanding leaders must also have the ability to instill a team spirit and a defined culture among their followers. This is achieved by being effective communicators and recognizing the differences in various people. At the same time, skilful leaders are able to identify the flaws and strengths of each person, in order to match everyone with their right job (Nahavandi, 2016). It is necessary for a leader to get personal with his/her people because everyone feels an important member of the group, which this serves to ensure that all are committed to the objectives of the team. Ultimately, the interpersonal bonds grow stronger, and such a team spirit helps to insure the groups against failure, since everyone participates in ensuring all the tasks are effectively accomplished.
Credibility and Integrity
Great leaders must also demonstrate credibility, which refers to the quality of being convincing and trustworthy. If the subordinates do not believe in their superiors or see them as reliable people, then the latter have failed at being exceptional. Credibility comes along with being outstanding and making people believe that you can be relied upon in times of great need.
Integrity is another attribute that defines a great leader. In essence, a leader who lies to their subordinates or behaves in a questionable manner cannot attain greatness. In order to be a good role model, one must have a reputation of being sincere, committed, and having strong moral principles (Nahavandi, 2016). Factually, great leaders are those who can move people both by their deeds and speech, and integrity plays a critical role in attaining such a feat.
Humility and Confidence
Without humility, it is impossible for a leader to reach the highest levels of the job. Essentially, humility entails walking in the truth at all times, and being responsible for one's mistakes. Moreover, humble leaders are able to seek and accept feedback, while being keen to improve on them. That way, such leaders are able to rectify their flaws and get better each day, which ultimately propels them to prominence.
Last but not least, remarkable leaders must display confidence in all their undertakings (Nahavandi, 2016). People cannot admire someone who freaks out at the slightest sign of a challenge. Instead, great leader is one who embraces problems with fervor and determination, and even if they fail, they are resilient enough to make a comeback. Such a brave attitude is imperative for one to be a first-rate leader.
Conclusion
To summarize, it is important to be a great leader because that way, one can be able to transform people and guide them towards self-improvement and goal achievement. With all the above qualities, a leader becomes effective at whatever task they set out to do. Essentially, a leader differs from a manager in that the former inspires people to follow them and believe in a certain vision, while the latter is focused on administrative duties and supervising the day-to-day activities to ascertain that all is going as planned.
Reference
Nahavandi, A. (2016). The Art and Science of Leadership -Global Edition. Pearson.
