For a
leader to become a good leader, a leader of choice, he or she needs to enjoy the respect of the people whom he/she will be leading. And, respect only comes when
it is mutual – a leader first needs to learn to give respect to his/her team or
people in order to enjoy their respect.
I am sharing my thoughts, which
are based on my life experiences, right from the time when I was a small boy,
following my elder brother, trusting him completely that he will do the right
thing to today when I have the fortune of guiding friends and team members discover their own
path and leading successfully to their destinations.
I
believe, more than the capability, it is the attitude that makes a leader. So, the
question that is more important is, Can we develop the right attitude for
becoming the leader that we would like to follow in our life? The answer is a
big YES!
There
are a few things that a person can do to be the choice leader rather than be an
imposed leader. Let’s dive straight into them….these are:
1. Focus on inculcating self-discipline
and not control
2. Guide, help, show them the
path, the destination, but let them do their own running
3. Be involved, but not all the
time
4. Trust them to the job, it’s okay if there are a few mistakes
5. It’s important that you talk
but it is equally important that you listen well
6. Stand up for them and not up to
them
7. Be fair, at all times
8. Be an inspiration to them; and make sure that they shine too
9. Let them know that you don’t
have all the answers but are ready to seek them
This article is tuned more towards leadership situations that we experience in our careers and workplaces, although the suggestions are applicable to all aspects of our lives. Tell me what you make of these 10 points. In my future articles, I will try and discuss each of these points in detail. In the meantime, also please share your thoughts on what makes a good leader. I look forward to your valuable comments.
Thanks for reading through this post!