What's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word "leader"?
Power, discipline, confidence, courage, passion, or any other.
Leadership isn't for everyone, but everyone wants it. It is something that gives you freedom and responsibility at the same time.
What is leadership?
It is a multifaceted skill that goes beyond merely managing tasks and people. Great Peoples inspire and motivate their teams, foster innovation, and create a positive work environment.
Whether you're aspiring to lead a team at work, in a community organization, or even in your personal life, it is a journey that involves continuous learning, self-awareness, and a commitment to personal growth.
How To Become a Great Leader
Have you heard the name of anyone from this list?
- Cyrus the Great
- Alexander the Great
- Genghis Khan
- King Henry VIII
- Nelson Mandela
- George Washington
- Napolean Bonaparte
These are some influential great peoples of their time; they are all ordinary human beings like us, but what makes them great?
Qualities of Every Great Leader
- Effective Communication
- Courage
- Active Listening
- Visionary
- Self-awareness
- Integrity
- Adaptability
- Confidence
- Decision-making
- Innovation
- Creativity
- Passion
- Delegation
It is a journey that involves personal development, self-awareness, and the cultivation of specific skills. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to achieve all this.
1. Self-reflection
Start by reflecting on your values, strengths, and areas for improvement. Understand your motivations for wanting to become a leader. What qualities do you admire, and how can you incorporate them into your own style?
If you want to know about every world's greatest people and how they become so powerful, then I would like to recommend the book World's Greatest Leaders. You can learn about all the powerful people in this single book.
2. Set Clear Goals
Define your goals. What do you want to achieve? Whether it's leading a team at work, heading a community project, or taking charge of a volunteer organization, having clear goals will guide your efforts.
3. Develop Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence (EI, or EQ) is a crucial aspect of personal and professional development. It involves the ability to recognize, understand, manage, and effectively use one's own emotions and the emotions of others.
Author Daniel Goleman popularized the concept of emotional intelligence, which was initially identified by psychologists Peter Salovey and John Mayer. It is crucial for leadership, relationships, and communication, among other aspects of life.
4. Learn from Other Leaders
Identify people you admire and study their qualities and behaviors. This could be someone in your workplace, a historical figure, or a public figure. Learn from their successes and challenges and consider how you can incorporate valuable traits into your own style.
5. Build Strong Communication skills
Effective communication is must essential. Practice clear and concise communication, both verbal and written. Develop active listening skills to understand the perspectives of others. Tailor your communication style to different situations and audiences.
Express your thoughts in a clear and concise manner. Avoid unnecessary jargon or complex language and focus on delivering your message in a way that is easily understood. Organize your thoughts before speaking to maintain clarity.
6. Build a support network
Surround yourself with a network of mentors, colleagues, and peers who can offer guidance and support. Learn from their experiences, seek advice, and build relationships that can help you navigate your journey.
Attend networking events, conferences, workshops, and industry gatherings. These environments provide opportunities to meet new people, exchange ideas, and build connections with individuals who share your professional interests.
7. Develop Decision-making skills
You often need to make timely and informed decisions. Practice critical thinking and decision-making by analyzing situations, weighing pros and cons, and considering the long-term impact of your choices. Learn from both successful and unsuccessful decisions.
8. Stay informed and stay current
You need to stay informed about industry trends, organizational developments, and broader societal changes. Keep up with relevant news, attend conferences, and engage in ongoing learning to stay current in your field.
These are some points which help you to become a leader. But it's not enough, you have to follow your role models, read out their books and watch their biography if available. Remember, it takes patience and time, and Managing Time is also one of the qualities of Great Leaders.
The Secret of Leadership
This is a world-famous book written by Prakash Iyer the bestselling author of The Habit of Winning and The Secret of Leadership. In a corporate career spanning more than twenty-five years, he has worked with teams selling everything from soaps and colas to watches, yellow pages and diapers.
He was the managing director of Kimberly Clark Lever. Passionate about people and cricket, Prakash is also a motivational speaker and trained leadership coach.
Leadership, while often discussed in terms of skills and practices, also involves certain underlying principles and "secrets" that contribute to its effectiveness. Here are some key secrets:
1. Authentic Leaders
Authenticity is like the secret sauce. Be genuine and true to yourself. Authentic leaders build trust because their actions align with their words. Authenticity fosters a connection with others, creating an environment where people feel valued and understood.
2. Vulnerability
Contrary to the perception that leaders should always project strength, embracing vulnerability is a powerful leadership secret. Admitting mistakes, seeking input, and showing humility make a leader more relatable. Vulnerability builds trust and encourages openness within a team.
3. Servant Leaders
They understand that their role is to serve their team, not the other way around. A servant leader prioritizes the well-being and development of their team members. By putting the needs of others first, they create a culture of collaboration and mutual support.
4. Strategic Vision
Successful people have a clear and compelling vision for the future. This vision guides decision-making and inspires others to work toward common goals. People with a strategic vision can align their team's efforts with broader organizational objectives.
Conclusion
While these "secrets" contribute to effective leadership, it's important to note that leadership is a nuanced and evolving skill. Successful peoples often combine these principles in unique ways, adapting their approach to the specific needs of their team and organization.
Leadership is not a one-size-fits-all concept, and the best leaders are those who continually refine their skills and remain open to growth and improvement.
