Leadership is an important function of management and helps an organisation achieve certain goals. Leadership initiates action, motivation, provides guidance, creates confidence, builds morale, and establishes a sound and stable working environment.

Wondering if you’ve got what it takes to be a leader? Read on and find out…

Why leadership?

Leadership is a function that’s important at all levels of management. In the top level it’s the skill set that formulates plans and policies. In the middle and lower levels, it’s the tool that helps you interpret and execute such plans and policies. It’s exercised through guidance and reconciles and integrates personal goals with organisational goals. It differs from authority in that a leader is trusted for their judgement and respected for their expertise, regardless of status/title.

What makes a good leader?

Many leaders are competent, but to brand yourself as remarkable you must carry certain traits. These qualities may take practice and some thinking, but the perks of leadership are worth it. Yes there will be pain, sacrifice, disappointment, sweat, hard work and obstacles, but set your sights on the following and you’re halfway there. A good leader is all about:

1. Awareness

No matter what an organisation may suggest, there are differences between management and employees. Leaders understand this and use this understanding to frame their actions, image and communication. A leader pays attention to all that’s happening in an organisation, making sure they consider the big picture. This permits them to retain an objective perspective from every level and it’s what makes them relatable.

2. Empathy

Leaders should guide employees through challenges and always be on the lookout for solutions that will bring long-term benefit to both the individual and the organisation. They focus their attention on moving forward rather than placing blame on particulars. Good leaders praise in public and get to the root of problems in private, and always work to find constructive solutions with genuine concern.

3. Decisiveness

Having a leadership position means you must at times make tough decisions. A good leader won’t hesitate during these times, knowing that in order to move forward one must be firm. There will of course be times when a leader’s decision is met with frustration, but as long as a decision has been made with the best interests of the organisation in mind, a leader will feel confident in their choice.

4. Optimism

Leaders need to be powerhouses of positive energy and should be able to inspire and reassure easily. Leaders are inherently concerned for others and because of this employees are naturally drawn in. A good leader will always offer a solution to a problem or work with the person until they find one, and they’ll avoid being overly critical.

5. Honesty

Honesty is one of, if not the most important building block in the leader-follower relationship. Embodying sincerity, truthfulness, frankness, openness and candor, a leader is not just honest but trusted. When a leader is worthy of trust, people are willing to follow – be it into battle in the boardroom or on a quest for excellence. Honesty is the basis for a personal and loyal relationship.

6. Forward thinking

Great leaders need to have vision and foresight. By planning ahead they can stay organised and logical. Great leaders think about all viable options and make plans and strategies that can be easily monitored and measured. Because they are organised and visually focused they can clearly communicate and adapt to last-minute changes.

7. Delegating

Trusting your team to perform a task is a sign of strength, not weakness. In fact, delegating tasks appropriately is one of the most important skills a leader can have. Good leaders know that if you stretch yourself too thin you more often than not must lower the quality of your work. The lesser quality the work, the harder it is for an organisation to grow.

8. Confidence

In any business there will be times when everything seems to be going wrong. Part of a leader’s job is to put out these fires and maintain team morale. A good leader will stay calm and confident when moving past hurdles and will keep their team feeling the same. Exude confidence and your followers will feel comfort in your abilities.

9. Commitment

A good leader knows that in order to expect commitment from workers they must too appear committed. There’s no greater motivation than seeing a boss down in the trenches alongside the rest of the team, and by proving you are committed to the brand itself rather than “your role”, you will earn the respect of the staff you oversee. A good leader is also committed to promises they make.

Key things to remember

Good leadership comes from understanding what good leadership is. If the above doesn’t quite get you to where you want to be, then your next step is to enrol in Lonsdale Institute’s Diploma of Leadership and Management course. Interactive and team-based, it provides for and encourages effective self-analysis while teaching you practical application for unpredictable problems.

Once you’ve done that, prepare yourself for the course by learning from the best. Great leaders have a way of summing up good leadership in just a few words, so take inspiration with these motivating quotes before your course begins.

“A leader isn’t someone who forces others to make him stronger; a leader is someone willing to give his strength to others that they may have the strength to stand on their own”.

– Beth Revis

“Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them”.

– John C. Maxwell

“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.”

– Ronald Reagan