The making of a leader

Leadership is not only about leading or motivating, it is about having an attitude to win over any and every situation

How many believe that leaders are born? Not many, says a poll result on www.shine.com that indicates that leaders can be created. Leaders aren't born, but they are people who have the potential to lead.

 What do Bill Gates, Mukesh Ambani and Narayan Murthy have in common? They are all dynamic leaders who discovered and seized opportunities and led their teams effectively towards achieving goals. History has time and again proved that dynamic leaders have been behind the success of large ventures and projects. It is the dynamism of  leaders that has helped many developed countries reach where they are today.

So, what is it that makes a leader? Well, there are many qualities that go into the making of a leader.

These include:

Winning spirit: Leadership is not just about leading or motivating. It is about having a great attitude to win over any and every situation. It is said that a leader is born and not created. Well, to a certain extent the leadership qualities are in-built, but formal education and experience help in polishing skills and giving them a winning edge.

Vision: All dynamic leaders have been great visionaries. With  clear focus, they would know what they want to do. They dream of achieving unimaginable goals. They chalk out plans keeping in mind their vision and work hard towards fulfilling their dreams.

Fearlessness: Leaders are risk takers. They are keen on taking the risk-route that can open up greater avenues, which a 'play safe' approach cannot. Dynamic leaders follow the “why not” approach that helps them see and recognise opportunities. They use these opportunities to give birth to great ideas that have the potential to revolutionalise the world.

People and managerial skills: Good leaders are known to be good managers. They have the skills to manage people and work effectively to achieve above normal results. They recognise  their subordinates' talent and harness it for the benefit of the organisation. Good leaders stand by their teams and understand their needs. They lead their team members effectively, giving them direction.

Discipline: History proves that dynamic leaders have always been great disciplinarians. They follow a strict regime  and encourage others to do the same. They are role models for the team and do things that inspire others.

Honesty and integrity: Honesty and integrity goes a long way in the development of a leader. To cultivate that dynamism it is  important to have an honest and straight forward approach. Dishonesty can help you achieve goals, but it will be short-lived.

The right mix of intelligence and emotional quotient: A steady mixture of intelligence and emotional quotient makes a leader stand out. Leaders are sharp when it comes to recognising opportunities and getting the best out of team members. But it is equally important to stay in touch with the human side and understand the emotional needs of the team. This helps in gaining the trust and cooperation of team members, which goes a long way in achieving difficult goals.

Opportunities are everywhere, you should only know how to look for them. This is what makes a dynamic leader different from the rest. They understand the need to change with time, while retaining their values. They apply their knowledge and experience to turn opportunities into successful ventures, while acting as mentors and providing guidance to their subordinates to achieve the desired goals.

Naveen T. Nair

Leadership Management

Monica Doshi, Managing Director, Leadership Management India, a leading Professional Development Company, cites five essentials of Leadership Management

 1. Process driven: Focus on application and what you may have taught the managers. Help them apply it in their work. Evaluate them on the basis of the skills acquired. Leadership training should always be process driven.

 2. Attitude and behaviour: Change the attitude of leaders and managers. This cannot be done in a few days or through seminars and lectures. What is required is constant monitoring of the workplace behaviour following training. Our training extends up to 10 weeks.

3. Multi-sense impact: People should internalise the teaching process. We make use of audio-visual techniques, ask leaders to write and practice what is taught to help them execute it at the workplace.

4. Set Goals: Focus on measurable results: We set goals for leaders and help them achieve them through multiple sense impact.

5. Help leaders maintain a work-life balance: Most CEOs and managers do not enjoy life because of the stress levels at the workplace. We help them manage work and life better. If they start enjoying work, their productivity increases. We make leaders not by overpowering managers but by empowering them. Team harmony is an important component of leadership management.

 Source: Shine.com