The 7 Qualities of A Good Leader
Publié le 4 November 2020
If company management is committed to embodying the 7 qualities of a good leader, it will allow them successfully work towards businesses goals while earning the respect and trust of employees.
Modern companies need modern leaders. The old image of a boss reigning as a distant overlord in a far-away office is a relic that needs to be left in the past. If a workplace is to be efficient, productive and enjoyable for employees and employers, a good leader must be willing and able to set the correct tone and promote a positive company culture.
With a great number of businesses transitioning to partial or full remote work due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever for there to be knowledgeable and effective leaders at the head of every organization.
The 7 Qualities of a Good Leader:
- Honesty
- Communication
- Delegation
- Reasoning
- Innovation
- Accountability
- Passion
Honesty
When surveyed, one-third of employees report that they do not trust their boss. The effects of such a large number can only be detrimental to the work environment. A modern business needs to be built on a company and corporate culture of openness and inclusiveness, characterized by honesty in terms of the state of the company, the work to be completed and relationships between employees. Any good professional relationship is based on honesty and trust.
A business leader must strive to provide everyone around them, including employees and clients, with accurate and clear information at all times. This includes being honest even when delivering bad news. If a leader conceals information, is not fully forthcoming or acts dishonestly, it can quickly lead to resentment and second guessing among workers and managers alike. Dishonesty costs a company time and valuable resources, so the best course of action is simply for a leader to be honest with their employees.
Communication
Being a good manager means being good at speaking and listening to others, creating a work environment that promotes open communication. An effective leader must display that they actively listen to and appreciate the concerns and ideas of their fellow employees. When employees know that they are free to bring thoughts and suggestions to their boss, it increases personal rapport and makes for a stronger and more productive work environment. With the sudden rise of remote work in 2020, this also means ensuring that each employee has the tools needed to communicate with their colleagues, and encouraging them to do so.
A good boss always maintains an open line of communication with others on all levels of a company. Information is not something to be hoarded and divided up, but rather viewed as an important resource for every employee. One survey found that only 29% of employees could effectively articulate their company’s chief strategy, a sign that it has not communicated effectively.
A good leader works hard to successfully communicate business goals to every employee. Embodying the values of open communication will inspire others to do the same, making it much simpler for everyone to remain informed and in sync with business plans and goals.
Delegation
A common misconception is that a strong leader must make every single decision and be deeply involved in each step of the process. Not only is this demonstrably false, but attempting to fulfil this incorrect idea will actually hinder the growth of a company. A good leader understands that part of their role is nurturing, not micromanaging, the employees around them. Inspiring others to grow and find their own professional space in a company is the hallmark of a good leader. If leaders don’t let employees know that there is room for growth and development, it can actually be a sign to workers that they should seek these opportunities elsewhere.
Micromanagement takes valuable time and resources away from a company. When surveyed, 79% of employees have dealt with micromanagement, while 36% actually left their job because of it. A bad boss insists on making every decision, while a good boss trains the right people and trusts them to make good decisions. This results in a satisfied workforce with greatly decreased turnover rates.
Reasoning
Leaders are problem solvers first and foremost. When employees come to them with issues and problems, a good leader must have the ability to approach the situation rationally and calmly. In many cases, there can be an enormous amount of information to be gathered and analyzed in order to make an educated decision. To be effective, this process must be performed without being overwhelmed or jumping to conclusions.
Having strong reasoning skills is a vitally important leadership quality. Through a strong sense of reasoning and rationality, a leader will be able to compare positive and negative outcomes of each scenario, and determine the best course of action.
Innovation
Getting trapped in repetitive ways of thinking and working is a danger for every leader. If working in a certain manner has enabled them to achieve this position in the first place, it can be tempting to keep operating under the same methods. A good leader, however, realizes that the same processes are not appropriate for every situation. Change is unavoidable, and accepting the risks and benefits of change is a sign of a growth mindset, which will allow an organization to successfully adapt and grow.
A leader committed to innovation will always be willing to try out new ideas and question existing structures. They motivate those around them to try unconventional methods in order to achieve business goals, without the fear of failure. Every new project then becomes an opportunity to try, learn and innovate in order to achieve greater success.
Accountability
Leaders make mistakes and a good leader will always accept responsibility for them. American President Harry S. Truman famously had a sign on his desk which read “The Buck Stops Here”, a reminder to others and himself that final responsibility rested with him. One of the qualities of a good leader recognizes the impact that their decisions and actions can have on everyone around them.
A leader must never shift the blame to others. This only makes them look ineffectual and selfish, while breeding mistrust and resentment. By accepting responsibility for their decisions, even when the results are negative, a boss will still demonstrate positive leadership qualities and motivate others to spend time devising a new solution rather than arguing over blame.
Passion
Inspiring others is one of the most important things that a leader can do in a work environment. Every day at the office will not always be incredibly fun and exciting. There will be times when a problem appears out of nowhere and must be dealt with immediately. By having a passionate belief in a business and its goals, a strong leader will inspire other employees to work through periods of stress and put their best effort into the company.
When a shocking 88% of employees do not feel passionate about their job, it can’t help but have a negative impact on both the daily work environment and the future success of a company. Leaders set the tone of company culture. By displaying passion towards their goals and methods, it will only motivate others to do the same.
Good leaders are key to the success of any company. This does not mean that they are merely good at giving out orders and bossing people around. Rather, they embody the qualities of a good leader, adding positive traits and values of the workplace. Doing so will allow leaders to succeed in their own role and ensure that their coworkers and employees will be equally as successful.
