Every individual has a different leadership philosophy created based on their life experiences. Although some forms of leaderships may be more effective than others, everybody has their own beliefs and practices. I believe every good leader must have these six qualities.
Be Proactive: One of the most important traits of a good leader is to be proactive. I have learned this year that a leader must be able to predict problems before they happen, and take action to prevent the issues from ever happening again. Also, a leader must have the ability to attack an obstacle, instead of responding to it after the fact. I believe people must make things happen and not wait for things to come to them. As the great Michael Jordan once said,"some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, and others make it happen." In my opinion, a leader must be able to "make it happen".
Think win-win: Normally, people think about succeeding in the terms of someone else failing. When someone thinks win-win they have a frame of mind that seeks mutual benefit in all interactions. It is important for a leader to have this attitude because instead of feeling as if someone must fail, they believe everyone can succeed. When the leader of a company believes everyone can succeed, there is less negative competition, and more working together to strive for your goals. When everyone is working together, the company can produce the highest quality product, resulting in more money for the business.
Listen: Another significant quality of a leader is to listen effectively. In class, we did many activities working in large groups. In those large groups there were many different voices and opinions to be heard, and I noticed that many people were not open to others ideas. In my opinion, a leader has to be able to listen to what others have to say and apply it. If a leader is close-minded and doesn't listen to their employees, they are not properly utilizing the resources available to them. Also, listening is important because when someone is telling you something important, you don't want to make them repeat it and look disinterested.
Adaptability: Adaptability is another important trait of a leader. In a leadership position, you can be faced with all different types of challenges. A good leader is able to adapt to each individual obstacle and find the best way to overcome it. Leaders need to be able to change the way they think and talk to best suit an individual situation. I believe the best way to judge a leader is to see how they manage change, and how they adjust to new situations.
Democratic: The best kind of leaders are democratic. Democratic leaders use the help of their employees when making decisions and promotes the interests of all employees. Instead of making all the decisions, a democratic leader utilizes the help of everyone, and creates an open environment where everybody can share their opinions. I believe that a democratic environment creates a better workplace, which creates happier employees, hence increasing the quality of the product and the amount of money you make.
Sharpen the saw: Finally, I believe that sharpening the saw is an important quality for all leaders. Even at the highest levels of management, it is necessary to remain fresh and renew yourself. By sharpening the saw, you are allowing yourself to relax and grow as a person. Leaders can often times burn themselves out, so it is extremely important to take a step back and get back on your "A" game. I've learned that working too much is a negative, and can hinder your performance, making it even more important to take some time for yourself.
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