Guest Post

Whether it’s in business or personal lives, leaders are all around us. Some are naturally so, and others become them. But in all effective leaders, certain traits, skills and knowledge are common.

Are you a leader or can you become one, yourself?

1. Sample Traits

Effective leaders both work hard and smart. They waste little time and effort and take full advantage of the time allotted for a task or project. They strive to accomplish personal, professional and team goals.

They also are team players and team builders. Leaders know they may be “the alpha dog of the pack,” but they’re still a member of the pack. Duties and responsibilities often differ or are enhanced for a leader, whether they’re assigned or instinctively accepted.

Effective leaders recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the team members, reinforces the strengths and strengthens the weaknesses. The most effective leaders encourage team members to become leaders themselves.

Leaders maintain professional respect for peers, subordinates and superiors alike, despite personal feelings.

A good leader is always fair, firm and consistent.

They are also secure and confident enough in their own abilities to invite and welcome suggestions from team members and others when the time to do so is available. No one can think of every reasonable possibility in every situation all the time.

A good leader encourages creative thinking among team members both as a team and as individuals.

2.  Skills

Leaders withhold decisions until all available information is gathered and evaluated. Most often, that information is forthcoming from team members, but sometimes, it’s from outside the team as well. A leader knows when to search elsewhere and brings the team into the evaluation process.

A team effort is often required, but it’s not a democratic structure. The leader maintains sole authority to make that final decision, however, unless that authority is specifically delegated.

If time is a premium, a leader makes the best decision with the information at hand. Should it effect a negative result, the leader takes responsibility for that decision.

Leaders are able to both monitor the forest and nurture the trees.

They keep in mind the business mission statement, focus and desired results while supervising day-to-day and special project operations. They track immediate, interim and long-term goals and make adjustments as necessary to accomplish them.

A leader is also a problem-solver. When team members cannot find a solution, a leader is able to find that resolution and effect its outcome.

3. Knowledge

A leader must be fully aware of policies and standards throughout the business and within the department. He must also question for clarification and for suggesting possible updates that can affect  him, his team members and even the business as a whole.

An informed leader is aware of the job descriptions, responsibilities and authorities of people both down and up the chain of command and know steps to take should behavior or performance varies erratically for an extended time.

A leader also knows the limits of his operating budget and the status of his team’s expenses.

And finally, a leader performs all his duties and fulfills all his obligations with the mindset that he’s already accomplished the goal, that he just has to take appropriate action to arrive at it. In other words, he fulfills his and his team’s projection and prophesy.

Conclusion

This is only a small, sample list of common elements shared by all good, effective leaders. What can you add to this list?

The author of this article is Sara Woods from Coupon Croc. A leader is only as good as their tools; get all of the best gadgets online and save when you use a Currys discount code.

Photo Courtesy Of European Parliament