“A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
A leader is not born.
A leader is created. The whole process starts inside the most dangerous place you’ll ever encounter – your own mind.
How can you become a strong leader who inspires others, drives people toward excellence, holds people accountable, and instills a sense of trust? Learning what makes a great leader is your first step.
Here are some things you can do to become the leader you’ve always wanted to be:
1. Control yourself: Every great leader in history has had to become a master of self-discipline and willpower in order to stay focused on the big picture. If you don’t have a goal or the drive to achieve it, you can’t lead others to attain their goals.
- Follow through in everything you do. As challenging as it may be, you need to be disciplined enough to be where you need to be, when you need to be there, whether you want to or not. By being strong in your resolve and resisting the temptation to give up, you are setting an example for others to follow.
- Choose your emotional response to a situation carefully. Sometimes, you’ll need to practice the art of silencing your inner thoughts when they are not appropriate in order to set a positive example.
2. Be clear about your goals: If the people you are leading don’t completely understand the deeper meaning in their work, they won’t share your vision or work ethic. By communicating with your team every step of the way, you can ensure they’re on the same wavelength and know what you expect of them.
- Get your team involved in the planning process and the implementation of your ideas. This gives everyone a greater sense of ownership toward the end result.
3. Praise highly and criticize constructively: The way you praise and criticize others can make all the difference in being able to lead effectively.
- Make sure you publicly praise the people who do excellent work for you. You’ll give each person a sense of accomplishment and the drive to do even better.
- When someone does something wrong, offer constructive criticism and do it privately. Suggest solutions on how they can improve and take the time to answer any questions. They’ll accept your input more willingly if they know it’s done to help and not to harm.
4. Know your people: You can’t truly lead a group of people unless you truly understand their dreams, goals, hopes, pains and struggles. All the good intentions in the world mean nothing unless you have a true sense of the people you’re working with.
- Talk to your team and get to know them. Getting to know each other on a personal level will strengthen your bond. They’ll want perform better for you because you’re more than just a “boss.”
- Be their leader first, and their friend, second. You are their leader, and that means that you have to make difficult decisions from time to time. These decisions cannot be affected by personal relationships.
5. Make the hard call: There are times when you have to bite the bullet and make some unpleasant decisions. Firing, demoting, and holding people accountable for their actions can be very hard at times. As a leader, it’s your responsibility to handle these matters.
Regardless of where your leadership role takes you, believe that you can be a strong leader. Remember, in order to lead others, you must be disciplined yourself. After all, your actions will speak louder than anything you can say.
In order to gain the respect of others, strive to lead by example in every area of your life.
When you follow these simple guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a true leader!
© 2012, Nicholas Dillon. All rights reserved.
Nicholas Dillon has over 15 years of education, training, and coaching experience in the academic and corporate arena. He also has formative experience providing group counseling and serving as a mentor in the Milwaukee community.
