Traits of a good leader
"MANAGEMENT is doing things right, leadership is doing the right things." This is the oft-quoted observation by Peter Drucker. Well, I do not think you need to be told who he is! But then, what are the right things he talks about? Right things are those that take a team forward towards the collective goal. The leader of the team is one who realises that there should not be more than necessary space for "I" in the team. It should be a collective "we".
Leaders are not born, they say; they are made. Fair enough. Leadership qualities are always imbibed, never transmitted genetically. The key thing in being a leader is the realisation that man is a social animal. All alone, he can easily be defeated. Leader, therefore, is one who puts his personal interest behind for the sake of the team. Let us find out some of the traits of a good leader:
I want to lead!
You need to first have the desire to lead people. Not a feeble wish like "I wish I were a leader," but a genuine fiery desire to take the initiative. Ask yourself why you wish to take the challenge, and bear the brunt of failure if things go wrong. If your answer is `aspiration', you are already on your way!
Bury the `I'
To be effective, discard the word `I' from your vocabulary and mind. The most effective leaders have been found to use `I' very rarely. The `we' factor rules their outlook. They understand their job thoroughly and accept responsibility. Yet, attribute the credit to the team. This is what creates trust and enables you to get a task done.
Walk your talk
Before giving any advice, make sure you have been following it yourself. This enhances your credibility among the team members and motivates them to emulate your example.
Foster mutual trust
If you want to be a leader, you are not supposed to take the risk of failure. Then, what if you fail? You won't. Express that you trust them, in thought, word and deed; and let them realise they can trust you. Such rapport ensures that your team will be more willing than ever to pursue a common goal as a unified entity. And, when that happens, failure will not even be a possibility.
History is witness to the feats of great leaders. Think positive, and spread the word team-wide!
Finally, listen
The greatest of leaders in history were either warriors or orators or strategists, but the common thing among them was that they were all keen -- and willing - listeners. "Give every man thy ear but few thy voice," said Shakespeare. It pays. Listen to what your team members have to say. Being the leader does not mean you know everything about the task at hand. There are others who know. Listen to everybody, try to arrive at a consensus and implement what is right.
A leader never asks for leadership, does not start or stop leading and never leads just a single team, but all the teams that he is a part of. A leader does not win once, but simultaneously in different places, and again and again.
SRABANI DEB
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