Develop Leadership Skills

Leaders are developed not born. Anyone can develop into a leader. It requires the desire and will-power to become a Leader. The Leaders develop themselves through an un-ending process of self-study, self-improvement, education, training, and experience. I will attempt to guide you through that process.

Let’s first examine the definition and concept of Leadership. Leadership as a process deals with influencing others to achieve, attain or accomplish the objectives. In the process, available resources are deployed or used or utilized, to the extent needed or required, in order to attain the set objectives or the closest possible thereto. A good Leader achieves through a communication process to seek sense of achievement amongst the team that is on task and the organization as a whole. The Leadership is requisite as the process needs someone with knowledge, education, skills, beliefs, discipline, ethics, morals and recognition to use all these attributes to bind the team together in achievement of the goals in a comprehensive, coherent, and cohesive manner. Leadership does not require title to indicate the Leader – it is rather the practice of the art and skills of Leadership that is the underlying factor. Title, necessarily brings the authority. Someone in position of authority may simply direct instead of using Leadership. Position of authority make the organization structure whereas Leadership helps achieve making a more involved, satisfied team with higher sense of belonging.

In order to be an inspiration and to be Leader one has to continuously work hard , self-education, self-training, self-improvement, follow latest developments in technology and research. These are just a few examples but not an exhaustive list. This would be a part of the acquired qualities of a Leader.

When you provide selfless service to your organization, you set a good example of a Leader. When you are perceived as a self-less devoted employee of the organization who cares for its objectives and are perceived as a colleague who cares for other employees, you are closer to be a Leader rather when employees just follow your instructions (where the employees take you as a boss).

Most people would look for a role-model, a guide, a knowledgeable colleague who knows the details about a role, job or task and has the vision to correctly implement. If you prepare (means work hard to be one who can fit into this expectation) and are recognized by others, you can be the Leader.

Qualities needed for Leadership:
Seeking self-study, self-improvement, education, training, and experience means continuously working on your qualities. In nutshell, the following qualities would need to be worked on:

• Technical Expertise – you must be technically knowledgeable must know each component of the tasks to be performed.

• Good Communication – Communicate with all at their level. Most employees need periodic re-assurance that they are doing fine vis-a-vis expectation. Most Senior people want to know the deviations from the chartered path (like budgets, standards, etc). A good Leader is able to communicate with all at their level.

• Work with others and show personal touch – Knowing the first names of employees and addressing them in first person is a good example. The concept of “corporate community” in Japanese Corporate Management is the best example.

• Lead by example – In order to Lead, a good Leader would be seen doing what is expected of others. This is a hall mark of a good Leader.

• Good Decisions – Problem solving and decision making can have a number of different tool sets. A good Leader would use the most appropriate tools and make decisions.

• Development of employees – Through role playing or otherwise, develop greater sense of responsibility amongst the employees.

• Team Building – Promote the culture of team. A good Leader promote such things like the usage of words such as “we” instead of “I”.

• Be Responsible – On one hand you have to be researching and finding new ways to improve the way things are done, on a continuous basis, on the other hand you have to take remedial measures to fix the deviations or corrections required due to stimuli created by external factors. Good Leaders take responsibility and take blame rather than blaming others or finding excuses.

Leadership is an acquired skill and can be best achieved by staying focused on the job, objectives of the organization, developing set of knowledge required to further the goals of the organization along with the development of sense of achievement, sense of responsibility and sense of belonging amongst the employees.