How to Become a Better Leader

Many of us have probably had a boss who was difficult to work for; who focused mostly on our mistakes and made us fearful of coming to work. On the other hand, some may also have been fortunate enough to work for a great boss – a strong leader who listened to them, valued them, and motivated them. So, what are the qualities of a good leader? 

According to one study, leadership qualities such as assertiveness, adaptability, intelligence, and conscientiousness are very important. Leaders who are transformational are usually positive, empowering as well as inspiring.  Transformational leaders are usually described as enthusiastic, passionate, genuine, and energetic. They are concerned about helping others achieve their goals, and also care about helping each member of the group to reach their full potential.  

It is worth mentioning here that while only one in a million is a born-leader, the vast majority of good leaders are taught. In fact, to become a good leader, first, you need to earn a good degree. You also need to gain knowledge and leadership as well as empathetic skills to become a leader. Consider some of the tips below to become a better leader and think about ways you can implement these strategies in your daily life 

Understand your leadership style

If you desire to be a good leader, it is essential to understand your current leadership style. Identify your strengths and find out the areas that need some improvement. One way to assess your skills you may take a leadership style quiz to have an overall idea of how you lead. Once you have completed the quiz, read about the major characteristics of your dominant style. See whether your qualities help or hinder your leadership. Having decided upon the areas that need some work, you can look for ways to improve your leadership abilities. 

Promote creativity

Intellectual motivation is one of the leadership qualities that outline transformational leadership. It is important to inspire followers or colleagues to be encouraged to express their creativity. Good leaders should always offer new challenges with ample support to achieve these goals. You can foster creativity by offering challenges to colleagues, ensuring that the goals are within their abilities. The purpose of this exercise is to encourage people to stretch their limits but not become discouraged by obstacles to success. 

Be passionate

Great leaders are not just focused on getting their group members to complete their tasks, but they have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for the projects they work on. You too can develop this leadership quality by thinking of different ways to express your zeal. It is important to let people know that you care about their progress. When you share something with the rest of the group, be sure to tell them how much you appreciate such contributions. It is important because people always look for guidance and leadership in people who are truly passionate about their work. 

Be a role model

One of the key qualities of transformational leadership is idealized influence. Good leaders embody the behaviors and characteristics that they encourage in their followers. They walk the walk and talk the talk. As a result, group members have high esteem for such leaders and work to emulate their behavior. Findings of several studies have hinted that a good leader is able to foster a specific belief and then transmit that inspiration to their followers. As a result, followers are also optimistic and have high standards for performance and achievement. If you desire to become a good leader, work on modeling qualities that you would like to see in your team members. 

Keep a positive attitude

Leaders who are transformational have an upbeat, optimistic attitude that serves as a source of inspiration for their colleagues. If leaders themselves seem discouraged or apathetic, it is likely that other members of the group too will become uninspired. Even when things look bleak and your colleagues begin to feel disheartened, try to remain positive. However, this does not mean you should view things through rose-colored glasses. It simply means maintaining a sense of optimism and hope in the face of challenges. 

Listen and communicate

One-to-one communication with group members is a vital quality of good leadership. You can provide effective transformational leadership when you are able to communicate your vision to your colleagues, who also feel inspired and motivated by your vision. Remember, good leaders should express sincere care and concern for the members of their group verbally as well as non-verbally. When you keep communication lines open, you can ensure that your group members to are able to make contributions and receive recognition for their achievements. 

Motivate your colleagues

Good leaders should also provide inspiration and motivation to encourage their colleagues to get into action. While being inspirational isn’t always easy, you don’t need motivational speeches to rouse your colleagues. Some ideas for leadership inspiration include being genuinely passionate about ideas or goals, helping colleagues feel included in the process, and offering recognition, praise, and rewards for people’s accomplishments. 

Rewards and recognition

A good leader will always acknowledge the contributions of his group members in achieving their goals. It involves offering effective recognition and rewards to help colleagues feel appreciated and happy. It may also come as no surprise that happy people tend to perform better at work.