Leadership skills are fundamental to any Business Manager/Business Owner or Entrepreneur.
If you manage any number of staff these are skills that you must have.
Benefits of Good Leadership Skills:
1) Improve your financial outcomes/rewards
2) Building an effective business organisation
3) Leveraging your time
4) Delegate lower priority tasks to others
5) People in your team who want to follow your Vision
6) Willing, motivated and focused staff members
You owe it to yourself, your family and your team, to have the best leadership skills possible.
So what are the key qualities of an effective leader?
1) Positive Attitude
Have a sound sense of self-belief in your capabilities and skills. This will result in an outward projection of confidence and a positive attitude.
2) Great Communication Skills
Develop excellent rapport with others and they will want to listen to you. Inspire them with words and actions. Always provide clear instructions and explanations of how their work fits into the bigger picture.
3) Determination, Stamina and Willpower
Rise above any hurdles or obstacles. By having determination, stamina and willpower, you will remain focused under pressure and get results for you and your team. This will gain the admiration of your team and inspire them to produce even better results.
4) Inspiration, Motivation and Enthusiasm
Stay true to your goals and inspire others through your motivation, enthusiasm and most importantly your VISION. By motivating yourself and others you will improve the output from your team. Be enthusiastic about reaching goals for yourself and your team. It is easier to “motivate” others into action rather than using threats or manipulation to get them to act.
5) Intelligence and Excellence
Keep yourself informed and educated. The best leaders are constantly looking for ways to expand their knowledge and skills because they know that others are looking to them for guidance, direction and solutions. Understand the importance of your role and hold yourself to a high standard. Strive for excellence in all that you do.
6) Passion, Desire and Commitment
Be a passionate person. Believe in your Vision and do whatever it takes to realise your goals.
Develop the desire to learn and build on your knowledge. Tap into your desire when striving for your goals.
Develop a commitment to complete work at the highest standard consistently. Be committed to your project outcomes. Commitment is contagious.
7) Integrity and Empathy
Develop an unwavering honesty in everything that you say and do. Integrity is a belief system no matter how unpopular it is with others. Keep your word and agreements; be truthful, fair and just. In the words of Abraham Lincoln: “When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That’s my religion.”
The leader of today listens, asks questions and behaves with care and empathy. Set an example by doing as you say you will do, and build the consensus of a group.
8) Decisiveness/Make the Tough Decisions
Do not shy away from tough decisions, as problem solving and sound decision making are key qualities of an effective leader. Making tough decisions leads to character development.
9) Responsibility
Assume responsibility even when faced with an obstacle or setback. Don’t make excuses. The American entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker John C. Maxwell said: “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
10) Courage
Have the faith to step out into the unknown, facing the uncertainty that comes with every new venture. The courage to act in the best interests of your business, no matter how tough the decision, will improve your financial outcomes and earn you the respect of your team.
11) Lead by Example and Reward/Recognise – Performance and Loyalty
Be the best that you can be, setting an example for others to emulate. Although your intention may not be to become a role model, once you inspire others, they will look to you as an example of what is possible.
Rewarding and recognising the good performance and loyalty of your staff members, will also build enthusiasm and team spirit.
12) Appreciation and Gratitude
The more appreciation and gratitude you show to those who help you, the more they will want to help you. Remember also to thank God for all of your blessings and observe the Universe deliver you more blessings.
You can be an effective leader and impact many lives along the way. Develop the traits of a leader to create an amazing life for yourself and others.
All the best in your leadership journey, and I pray that God blesses you and your family with abundance and prosperity.
Kostas Augerinos
Managing Director/Founder – KAA Australia
