What makes a great leader

• Muhamad Rawi
• 01/02/2018
• 2271
• 3,020

Leadership isn't easy and there is a big difference between being a good manager and being a good leader. Anyone can become a good manager if they follow a good protocol and keep the workflow going as it always goes. However, to make a change while being in the management position it would take more than just giving orders and signing some papers. Leadership isn't also limited to managerial positions, everyone could be a leader in their own position and start setting an example for other coworkers. Here are some characters that need to be fulfilled in leaders.

1- Hard work and hard times

Not all work days are easy, some times are really hard for business and it takes a special talent to overcome these hard times. Hard work, ability of thinking under stressful circumstances, and making the right decision at the right time, all of these characters need to be existing in great leaders personality. The great British leader Winston Churchill was able to make hard decisions during world war II without sleeping for several days. 

2- Be clear and concise

When deciding to make a work plan, you need to be clear and concise. Your employees, followers, or even soldiers will need to be able to digest and fully understand your game plan. A leader must have the ability of clear thinking and getting his ideas to the simplest minds in the team rather than setting vague, unclear targets.

3- Listen to everyone

You don't know where the great ideas come from and you are not the only smart brain in the team. Some team members may come with greater ideas than yours if they get a chance to talk, give them freedom of speach and accept the fact that you may have to change the plan anytime if any better ideas come on the desk.

4- Courage

This is also related to the previous point. It is totally a doable and affordable task for everyone to be brave and courageous. keep training yourself to be brave and courageous through making difficult decisions and taking responsibility for all your actions. Don't run away from the consequences of your decisions and have the courage to admit them. There is no shame in admitting you were wrong and it is better for you and everyone in the team to catch wrong decisions as early as possible. 

5- Passion

There's nothing more inspirational than seeing someone who cares about what they do the best leaders exhibit boundless energy and passion for what they do. Don't be shy about your passion for whatever it is you are leading, be it a book reading or a laboratory experiment. You have to love what you're doing after all and your ambitions should be limitless.

6- Humility

Being humble is what great leadership is all about. Listen to everyone, share your ideas, set an example for your coworkers by doing the same hard work they do. There is nothing good about working alone or living alone or sitting boundaries between you and your coworkers. 

7- Team work

Great leaders should be able to lead teams and implement the idea that if the team fails then everyone fails and vice versa. You will have to deal with lazy or non-efficient team members without expelling them, lead them to success rather than trying to replace them and accept the fact that not everyone is great or efficient, just deal with it as it is and try to manage your team members to get the most out of them.

8- Control the work flow

Despite the latter point, you will have to take actions towards work malpractice. Set a clear role for coercion and not punishment. On the other hand, there need to be a compensation plan for talented achievements and hard work. A great leader should be able to balance between both to achieve work goals.

9- Make your decisions rather than taking them

A major difference between leadership and simple management is making decisions rather than just taking them. Great leaders can direct the decision making process from the beginning, taking early actions, fore sighting future events, and leading it all towards a decision you would desire to take rather than being surprised by hard surprising decisions you will have to take anytime.