It has been said that leaders are born, not made. But we beg to disagree because we believe that the desirable traits of a good leader can be learned. And as such, good leaders can be trained, and it is never too early nor too late to get started.
Leadership Attributes
What makes a good leader? There are many attributes that good leaders have, or should have, rather.
1. Vision
Vision in this context is the leader’s ability to conceptualise and visualise the goals that she or he desires for the entire team, be they measurable or immeasurable goals. The leader might envision the kinds of personal growth for each individual member of the team, as well as for the team in its entirety. These measurable and immeasurable goals will differ depending on the nature of the organisation and/or team.
2. Integrity
Integrity is an integral part of any relationship, and as a leader, it is an indispensable trait because the entire team’s success or failure relies on the honesty, accountability and trustworthiness of its leader. Followers are naturally inclined to agree to the direction and directives of someone they know they can trust in even the most precarious of circumstances
3. Empathy and Good Communication Skills
An essential part of being a good leader is also the ability to communicate appropriately and effectively. This will require the ability to empathise with people, especially the members of the team. Because personalities necessarily differ, and because different types of personalities communicate differently, it is up to the leader to learn to understand what methods of communication work with different types of people.
4. Strategic and Critical Thinking
Fundamentally, leaders need to be able to think strategically and critically in order to effectively lead their teams. This will involve a clear picture of the strengths and weaknesses of the team, and it will entail the wisdom and prescience to put themselves in many different scenarios that may or may not occur in the future. It also means the ability to think of contingent plans, as well as the ability to manage and solve problems, or worse comes to worst, the skill with which to manage and solve crises.
5. Patience and Tenacity
A good leader has to be able to face the fact that the team will not always get it right on the first try. And a good leader has to be able to understand that people do make mistakes, yet hold her ground and assure the team that everything is under control. The tenacity to stay focused on the end game and the positivity to continue control of the team will ensure that team members stay as focused as their leader.
6. Flexibility and Creativity
The bamboo is known as the strongest of all trees because it bends to the wind and this avoids their breaking. In the same manner, good leaders must realise that change is inevitable, and they must learn to be flexible and be comfortable with the fact that things will not always go as planned. This flexibility and creativity will include the openness to trying new things in new ways, as well as the understanding that as it might not always work out right the first, second or third time no matter how hard the team is trying.
7. Inspiration
All followers look up to their leaders as their source of inspiration. The ability to always make the team think, ‘Yes, we can do this!’ is a necessary skill in a good leader. Good leaders have to have the kind of positive aura and the requisite charisma to influence the entire team into thinking and believing that their goals are achievable and that they will all get there eventually, whatever the current circumstances might say.
8. Confidence in the Team and the Ability to Delegate
Good leaders know how to assign the appropriate tasks to the right members of the team, and this requires an understanding of the skill-set and personality type of each individual in the team. No matter how much leaders might feel that any particular job could be better done themselves, it is necessary for them to have enough faith in the team members to effectively delegate each task.
9. Equality and Equity
Good leaders have the wonderful ability to make each member of the team feel wanted and valued. Equality in treatment will entail that everyone gets his or her fair share, whether in reward or in retribution. Equity will mean that the leader is willing and able to realise that everyone is different in their personalities and past experiences, and thus will not impose the same expectations on everyone.
10. Humility and Continuous Improvement
Hubris and arrogance are not attractive traits of a good leader. Good leaders are able to accept and realise that just like their team members, they too, make mistakes, and that everyone in the team must have the humility and willingness to change and improve. Contrary to losing the confidence and the respect of their team members, this gentle spirit will actually garner greater respect and command greater loyalty in the team.
EMBARK ON A REWARDING FUTURE IN LEADERSHIP MANAGEMENT
MAHSA University offers higher education programmes that are designed to elevate leadership qualifications in graduates through Master's Degree in Business Administration, Doctorate in Business Administration or PhD in Management which are offered either on conventional mode or through distance learning with a specialisation in Hospital Management also available for your career advancement. Find out more about these programmes offered by the Faculty of Business, Finance, Information Technology & Hospitality.
For more information, visit www.mahsa.edu.my
Words by: Jennifer F. Netto