A leader is everyone that has an opportunity today to lead. Every day there are opportunities that present before you prompting you to take up the mantle of leadership. It might be a position, office, season (crisis, circumstantial) that has arisen and needs you to lead the team or people around you. Many people shy away from leadership mostly because they fear the responsibility that goes with it. What then are the traits that will prepare you to be the leader that you must be.
- Envision the future.
You must have a clear picture of what you would like to see in your future. This picture must be unique to you or your organisation and must be broken down so that it is very specific. You must never run with another’s vision because you envy their success. That will only lead you to disappointment and frustration. Remember life is not for playing small. Prepare for a huge, humongous platform for your future. Are your goals worthy of you?
- Be decisive
A leader is always faced with situations that call for decisions to be made. Even leading by itself is a decision you must make. A leader most of the time is not even sure that the decision that they are making is good or bad but they make the decision. When you are indecisive you break down your team. It is better to make a wrong decision because it can always be fixed and lesson learnt than fragmenting a team with indecision.
- Role model
They are out there folding their sleeves and getting their hands dirty. They will always do what they expect others to do. The team does well while the leader can lead from the front and not behind. Leadership is actually not a role but a lifestyle. It is not limited to work-life alone but also reflects our personal life.
- Radiate positive energy.
This is a vital ingredient in leadership. This is what fuels your passion and the passion of the team to get you to the desired results. Positive energy has a ripple effect and it lifts the morale of everyone working around you. If you suck then all the people around you reflect the same energy. Positive energy has a multiplying effect and it makes a leader’s efforts be multiplied in the team and much is accomplished with little effort.
- Be Approachable.
Being personable is a strength to any leader. This enables them to connect with his people easily. It becomes easy to sell in your vision to the team and also for them to connect their individual visions to the corporate vision. Being approachable helps a leader to have access to authentic feedback.
- Proactive Attitude
A leader will always know what to focus on. They will not be looking at what happened or didn’t happen but the main focus is to resolve a problem. They are always a solution to the things that happen around them or around others. They might not have the answer themselves but will do whatever it takes to get it. They think progressively.
- Accountable
Being a leader calls for accountability to yourself and everyone else around you. The team mistakes are your mistakes. They take responsibility and look out for the next step to make things right. They are dependable and reliable. They are not the type to look out for excuses why things went wrong. They will protect their team with whatever it takes.
- Mastered delegation
Leaders are always looking for opportunities to empower others with bigger responsibilities. They will, therefore, delegate tasks that can be done by others and they concentrate and focus on tasks that only they can do. More strategic tasks are given ample time and attention. They also trust the team to get the delegated job done
