5 Skills Every Workplace Leader Needs

source: madgraphs

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The 5 Simple Truths about a Leader

Leaders are made not born. It takes years of practice to develop and master leadership skills. They are honed by their experiences as rank and file employees, to become influential top management material.  And leaders may stand out in a crowd but they are also easy to identify. Here are the five qualities that give them away:

1. A leader is responsible. This is the number one key attribute of the leader. They do not laze around, are goal-oriented, and give credit where it is due. Leaders never blame anyone for what they themselves should be responsible for. At the same time, they acknowledge compliments and praise with grace. They are grounded individuals who know how to make their tasks easy to achieve. When delegating tasks, they oversee the work but give their team enough space to grow in their tasks. They praise team members who do an outstanding job and give the appropriate correction and nudge to whoever has done a less efficient task.
2. A leader is influential. They are admired for the decisions they make and actions they take. An influential leader is fair and humble at the same time. They do not look down on others. They see each individual team member as an equal.  They value and respect people for who they are.  And they are valued and respected in turn.
3. A leader is an effective communicator. Leaders are good speakers and listeners. Years of experience and moments of introspection have given them both knowledge and wisdom. They have ideas on what their team members are going through. So, they give them advice on how to do things more efficiently, proposing better solutions, and making the right things happen. The way they advise is compassionate. They are good listeners too. They listen to their member’s suggestions, reactions, and comments on projects or ideas. They will not turn them down and instead ask for more suggestions until the team decides on a collective idea. A leader makes sure that the whole team is in harmony and thrive in two-way communication.
4. A leader is determined. They are passionate in their role and never back down. The leader pushes his team to the best of their abilities. The team backs the leader up without hesitation. The team consistently reaches an end goal and exceed expectations. The individual members are committed to accomplishing their tasks and inspire one another.
5. A leader is a follower. All leaders were followers once. Even until the time they become a leader, they still follow. They follow their vision and their team’s shared ideas. Just because someone is a leader, does not mean that he cannot follow his members’ suggestions. He respects that opinions and efforts of his team, adds value whenever he can, and constantly drive excellent results.  Leaders follow their superiors and set the right example in servant leadership. They also follow their company’s corporate directions, and thus achieve great success for all.

The 5 qualities are a good start. And they must be regularly honed. The simple truth is that being a leader takes constant practice. The good news is that the best time to practice and hone your leadership qualities can start today.