No organisation can rise above the quality of it's leadership. Because leadership is a position that must be earned day in and day out, there are important personal choices that both new and experienced leaders must make on a regular basis.
Effective leaders are, first and foremost, effective people. Personal ethics cannot be separated from professional ethics. Therefore, the character of the leader is ESSENTIAL.
The following list of 10 characteristics is a valuable guide for quality living, in addition to being an important criteria for leadership.
1. A High Standard of Personal Ethics.
This quality leads the list. Honest Abraham Lincoln, who walks miles to return a customer's change is a classic example of how personal ethics are reflected in professional conduct. Decisions made under pressure and/or temptations separate the great leaders from the impostors.
2. High Energy.
Great leaders are not exhausted from dealing with petty issues. These people know right from wrong as well as the difference between what is truly important and what is merely interesting.
3. Walking The Talk.
The ability to work on priorities shares equal importance with setting priorities. many brilliant priority list end up in the landfill of life. The difference between setting priorities and working on them is the difference between a dreamer and a doer.
4. Courage.
The willingness to take risks and accept responsibility for the outcome is a consistent quality among effective leaders. Either you or your fears will control everything you do. An organisation will be no bolder than the leader.
5. Dedication
Committed and dedicated hardworking leaders will eventually develop dedicated and hardworking organisations, regardless of whom they start with or the experience they bring to the job.
6. Creativity.
Unorthodox leaders have an urge to create and do not have patience to deal with red tape before acting. Effective leaders are innovators who get bored easily and prefer shaping tomorrow to repeating yesterday.
7. Focussed.
Great leaders have the goal orientation to make tough decisions. Goal orientation produces drive and energy that shield them from the pain of the task. Keeping an organisation focussed increases efficiency.
8. Genuine Enthusiasm.
This is contagious. People look to their leaders for enthusiasm. The inspiration level of the organisation is directly proportionate to the enthusiasm of the leader, be it high or low.
9. Cool Under Pressure.
Level headed people make realistic leaders who respond to problems rather than simply react. A leader ho can stay cool under pressure inspires confidence among those in the organisation and empowers them to do the same.
10. Caring.
The desire to help others succeed is the mark of a truly great leader. Synergy is created when a leader truly invest his efforts in the success of others. Motivational speacker Zig Ziglar says: "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care about them."
Whether you are trying to increase your own effectiveness as a leader or are trying to develop leadership talent within your organisation, keep studying the characteristics of those you consider to be great leaders.
Remember that Leadership is a ART, not a Science.
The difference between a genuine effective leader and a short-term motivator can be found in the personal decisions an individual makes when choosing how to liv his life.
Long-term commitment to the principles described above will produce an effective leader and over time, an inspired organisation - source: ST/ANN
These are the Qualities that VXL Leaders must develop
- to be able to lead and inspire success.
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