15 Secrets of an Effective Leader

1st November 2013

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Whether it be leading a group for a project or managing a committee for a college festival, or even spearheading a task in an office, leadership skills are invaluable. Youth Inc tells you how to make an impact

Everyone is a leader in their own way. A leader is anyone who takes initiatives and ensures a certain task is done. A leader must maintain a fine balance between accomplishing goals and managing the people who help accomplish those goals. Here are some tips on how to achieve that.

1. HAVE A STRATEGY

Take some time to consider the task you are meant to accomplish. What are your responsibilities and how will you shoulder them? Create an action plan and share it with your team.

2. IT’S NOT WHAT YOU DO; IT’S HOW YOU DO IT

Good leaders do not lead armies of robots; they manage people, so you need to first become someone who can connect with other people. If you are humble, gracious, approachable and attentive, your team will be more willing to work with you.

3. KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS

Nobody is perfect, not even Superman. The trick is to identify where you are disadvantaged so you can team up or hire people who will complement your skills. Only then will you lead a well-rounded group that is capable of doing pretty much everything.

4. COMMUNICATE REGULARLY

You cannot delegate tasks and then disappear. Talk to your teammates regularly. Monitor their progress and track everyone’s performance so you can solve problems early. Keep sharing ideas; collective intelligence is far more powerful than solitary intelligence.

5. BE AVAILABLE

Make time for your team. Be open and approachable so your team members know you are interested in the project and will be around to guide and support them. Listen to other people and learn from them too.

6. TRUST YOUR TEAM

Trust is a two-way street; if you want the respect of your teammates, trust them first. Trust that you’ve made the right decision in putting together a group of people. Trust them in the job they do. Do not undermine their work or efforts.

7. ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY

Simple solutions are elegant, no doubt, but once in awhile a creative solution paves the way for a revolution. Encourage your team to think laterally. Creative solutions will differentiate your group’s work from the rest. Unconventional ideas are hard to come by, so cherish the ones that your team gives you.

8. TAKE RISKS AND INNOVATE

Take those creative ideas and act on them. Weigh the feasibility and the repercussions of implementing the idea. Sometimes you need to take a leap of faith. Not all risks pay off, but that’s why you do your research first – that minimises the chances of failing.

9. DISPLAY CONSISTENT BEHAVIOUR

Treat everyone the same. Sometimes you may need to work with someone a little differently owing to their skills or working styles, but apart from that, you must be identical in your approach to everyone. Be respectful and unbiased. Don’t let your moods dictate your behaviour. You should not be someone that people step around cautiously. The commandand-obey method is a thing of the past.

10. BE FAIR

Listen to all sides of a story before jumping to conclusions. Be justified in your actions because you are answerable to your team. Be firm but not aggressive. Don’t be a bully and don’t gossip.

11. HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

Your attitude is contagious; it influences the attitudes of your group members. If the leader is pessimistic, the approach to work will be dull and uninspired. But if the leader is optimistic, there is hope and energy in the work.

12. INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE

Channel your positivity to the group often. Loss of motivation is one of the biggest enemies of productive work. Inspire your team to work towards the goal.

13. REWARD AND RECOGNISE

One of the best ways to keep your team motivated is by recognising their good work and rewarding them. Praise your teammates and show them they are valued. Above all, listen to them. Listening works wonders.

14. KEEP CALM IN A CRISIS

This is a difficult trait to display, but it is absolutely essential. Panicking will not solve a crisis, it will only worsen it. If you panic as well, then there is no one who can think of calm, level-headed solutions.

15. SET AN EXAMPLE

In the end, be someone your team members would like to emulate. Leaders are influential people, so make sure you are a person who influences others in the right direction.