Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others. – John Maxwell
Image from Forbes.com
Good leaders have been developing tried-and-tested best practices throughout the years, and luckily, many are willing to share their findings. Below is a compilation of five marks of a good leader, referencing various influential sources.
1. Employees are engaged: employees do not crave satisfaction as much as they crave engagement. A good leader cares about employee development and focuses on their strengths. “Companies with an average of 9.3 engaged employees for every actively disengaged employee in 2010-2011 experienced 147% higher earnings per share (EPS) compared with their competition in 2011-2012.” – The Chairman’s Blog
2. Continuous learning. Becoming a leader does not exempt you from continued growth. No leader has the luxury to sit back, stop learning, and rely on his or her formerly acquired skills to manage all future problems and opportunities. “Be prepared to learn from others – including your new team.” – Profiles International SEA
3. Team members are empowered to act and excel. A good leader creates an atmosphere conducive to innovation, productivity and successful employees. “Leaders who understand the strengths of their employees and their potential for more responsibility feel confident in enabling others to take control and initiative.” – Business Leadership Qualities, from the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership model
4. Good communication practices are a priority. Communication is needed in order to understand employee strengths and weaknesses, gauge opportunities, understand problems, delegate work and spearhead projects. Open lines of communication also create a more productive atmosphere, as information is easily accessible by all team members. “Communication plays a key role in the success of any workplace program or policy.” – Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program (via Small Business Chron)
5. A leader accepts responsibility, whether praise or consequences. Leaders are responsible for their teams. Good leaders don’t blame mishaps on anyone else, they accept fault and work towards finding a solution. Instead of spending time shifting blame, the best leaders find ways to turn problems into opportunities. “Accepting the consequences for failure is not a sign of weakness; it’s a measure of leadership. While no one likes to fail, the sooner you accept what happened, the sooner you can move forward.”– Harvard Business Review blog
Overall, a good leader understands his or herself, employees, and continues to move forward. To view more management strategies and advice, visit the ProfilesAsiaPacific.com blog.
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