It’s fair to say that there are times in all of our lives when we are required to step and take a leadership role. Whether it is at work, or in your friendship group, or even just in your family dynamic, the process of becoming a leader is one that comes to very few people naturally, most of us have to do a little work in order to get there! The difference between a good leader and a bad leader is so stark that it really is worth putting in the effort to improve your own skills. Here is how to be an effective leader.
Pick a person in your personal or professional life, and use them as a role model for the behaviour that you want to exhibit in your leadership. If you have someone that you can base your attitude and decisions on, then it will seem to those around you that you already have everything figured. That is a key quality in a leader!
You can’t be an effective leader unless you fully know what your own strengths and weaknesses are. Being a good leader isn’t about being able to do absolutely everything, it is about knowing how to make important decisions, whether that means taking on a challenge yourself, or delegating it to someone who you think could do it better.
You need to be a good listener in order to be a good leader. Nobody is going to respect or follow you if they feel like you aren’t taking their thoughts and feelings in to consideration. A truly effective leader is one who hears everyone, and makes the best decisions according to consensus and gut instinct.
You shouldn’t style yourself as some sort of unapproachable, king of the castle type figure. Make sure that your communication skills are on point, because it is through communication with those around you that you start to be regarded as a leader of the pack. If you can get your points across the most effectively out of everyone, then you are naturally going to be seen as someone to follow and respect.
Just like with bad politicians, people can always tell when someone isn’t being honest and authentic. Authenticity is something that human’s hold very dear, and when they see it displayed in a big way in someone else, they automatically connect better to them, and feel a sense of loyalty right from the start.