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”Leaders do not command excellence, they build excellence”

Leadership is a process that takes place in groups in which one member influences and controls the other members toward some common goal. Leaders have clear visions and they communicate these visions to their employees. They foster an environment within their companies that encourages risk taking, recognition and rewards, and empowerment allowing other leaders to emerge.

Managers are people who do things right, while leaders are people who do the right things.

-Warren Bennis

They improve people’s vision to a higher sight, raising the performance to a higher standard and building their personality beyond its normal limitations.

Ability to Motivate

Often in our lives we are influenced by certain people who possess the unique ability to motivate- To give us a sense of purpose and ownership. These people may be teachers, managers, supervisors, spouses, friends and may be enemies. The ability to motivate is an essential tool for all leaders to have in their toolbox. It is not always easy to motivate people, especially if they do not enjoy their work. Teamwork is the key here. People must be treated as individuals. Always acknowledge their importance and show them respect.

Motivation can never be forced. People have to want to do a good job. Why should a person do a good job or be enthusiastic about their job if no one cares. Leaders must motivate and boost the pride of their people—make them to do a good job.

Ability to Communicate

Effective communication plays very important role in leadership. We all know what it is like to have a conversation with someone who is not listening. All of us are guilty of this—our eyes may be wandering, we may be thinking of what we need to do next, we may be thinking of what to say next, we may be looking at our watch. A leader must be able to listen as well as speak and write. Others will notice your ability to listen. Not only does this show your concern for others, but it also shows compassion and understanding. Listening is a rare happening among human beings. You can not listen to the word another is speaking if you are preoccupied with your appearance or with impressing the other.

Willingness to Take Risks

Whether you are learning a new sport, trying a different medicine, driving a new car or meeting someone for a date, writing your first blog, doing something new for the first time may bring apprehension, excitement and fear. Think what life would be like if you never took risks. Think what kind of leader you would be and the environment you would create if you never took risks. If a leader is afraid to take new steps or explore new territory, then opportunities for improvement and advancement are lost. In real sense taking risk shows creativity. Do not be content with the status quo because there is always room for improvement.

As leaders we must give others the opportunity to learn, to think and develop initiative. Delegating also enables us to sharpen other leadership tools such as communication and personal investment. Then, having evaluated and picked a few leadership tips, creative leaders have to convince the organization that an idea is worth the investment and worth the trouble to implement.

Ability to Delegate

Many times we underestimate the potential of others people. We avoid delegating a certain project or task for fear that it may be completed incorrectly. As an individual it is good to finish work yourself if you want it done right. But as a leader we must give others the opportunity to learn, to think and develop initiative. The wider sharing of leadership tasks could sharply lower the barriers to leadership. For every person now leading, there are many more that could share leadership tasks, testing their skills, enjoying the lift of spirit that comes with assuming responsibility, and putting their feet lower of a ladder that rises to higher leadership responsibilities.

Responsibility

Being a leader is never an easy task, and only a select few can take an organization, a team to work together towards a single goal. They have to be stern but at the same time sympathetic also. Being a good leader means different things to different people at different times. But experience teaches and history shows that people identify more and are willing to overlook more of a leader’s shortcoming’s if he convinces them by words and actions that he cares. Equally important is recognition of the fact that a personal investment of time, effort and caring cannot be faked or substituted.

Consistency

Consistency is the most admired quality of a leader because it brings stability to work and situational environment. Knowing what to expect creates an atmosphere of predictability, and facilitates start-up activity with easy interaction and creativity. The phrase “my boss does not like surprises”, could be equally phrased “the subordinates do not like surprises” particularly when functioning in a normally stressful environment. Where leader demonstrates consistency, daily dealings become smoother and collective energy is directed toward problem-solving. Consistency promotes effective communication, encourages risk taking, motivates subordinates, supports delegation, solidifies empowerment, responsibility and facilitates leadership.

Organizational Abilities

This leadership trait applies in all walks of life. One does not have to be General to appreciate and understand the implications behind the statements usually said in admiration that “he is organized” or “he has his stuff together”. The ability to amass information, correlate it, analyze it, make better use of subordinates and follow through to achieve a desired outcome are marks of organization ability. This leadership tool is a necessity for anyone aspiring to seniority.

Decision Making

Decision making is the selection of a course of action from among alternatives. It is at the core of planning. Managers must make choices on the basis of limited or bounded rationality. That is they must make decisions in the light of everything they can learn from a situation, which may not be everything they should know. Experience, experimentation and research and analysis come into play in selecting an alternative. The factors that determine the importance of a decision are the size of commitment, the flexibility or inflexibility of plans.

Special Motivational Techniques

Motivational techniques are so complex and individualized that there can be no single best answer to this but some of the major motivational techniques can be identified. Money can never be overlooked as a motivator whether in the form of wages, piecework, bonuses, stock options; money is important. Money is often more than monetary value. It can also mean status or power.

Participation is also a means of recognition. It appeals to the need for affiliation and acceptance. Above all, it gives people a sense of accomplishment.

Quality of Working Life is very interesting approache to motivation. Job enrichment aims at making jobs challenging and meaningful. The complexity of motivation requires a contingency approach that takes into account the environmental factors, including the organizational climate.