Qualities of an effective leader

1. Optimism: Optimism is one of the 8 qualities of a good leader. A positive

attitude is a leadership trait that can set the tone and motivate individuals to be
more productive. People who are optimistic about not only themselves and what
they’re doing, but about other people, are much more likely to inspire others to
be, and do their best. An inspiring leader raises employee engagement resulting
in greater likelihood of achieving organizational goals.

2. Ability to Make Difficult Decisions: The ability to make difficult decisions

based on the facts and circumstances of each specific situation is a crucial
quality of a great leader and effective leadership. The qualities of a good leader
will rely on both reason and intuition. True leaders must also know when to
make decisions solely on their own, and when they can, and should, be based on
the input of others when working towards a common goal. Great leadership
employs strategic thinking. They are resilient leaders who can set clear goals
but also adapt to change and maintain a positive attitude even in the face of
adversity.

3. Ability to Delegate: A strong, confident and effective leader is not afraid to

let others handle the workload and can ultimately give credit where credit is
due. Strong leaders also get to know each team member and the people they’re
working with well enough to decide who is best suited for the delegation of
certain tasks. A person who understands this leadership style is typically a better
leader.

4. Must be Approachable: In order to keep the channels of communication

open, a true leader or good manager must be approachable at all times. This is
an essential leadership quality. You'll know that you have the qualities of a good

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leader when peers and subordinates feel comfortable bringing both good and
bad news to you as the person in charge.

5. Integrity: Neither adults nor children are going to follow an individual that
they feel they can’t trust. In a culture where people’s ethical standards seem to
be rapidly deteriorating, a successful leader that embodies integrity will stand
out in the crowd and naturally draw in followers because of their untainted
reputation and good leadership quality. A strong leader has unwavering
integrity even when it is tested.

6. Humility: Humble leaders are good leaders who know that even though they
assume the leadership position and are in charge, the contributions of others are
very important. It’s also necessary for great leaders to understand that admitting
mistakes is not a sign of weakness, but of strength, self-awareness, and high
emotional intelligence.

7. Transparency: People feel more comfortable when they know exactly what
is expected of them and how those in charge expect them to accomplish those
goals. In practical terms, this leadership style often entails good communication
skills as it calls for communicating face to face instead of by email and
delivering important information in a timely manner.

8. Authenticity: Effective leaders will not only be transparent regarding

expectations, but about who they are as individuals when they take on a
leadership role. Authentic and successful leaders direct with a consistency that
is based on their true character, not a contrived style. Eventually, others will see
through a facade.

Differences Between Leaders and Managers

LEADER MANAGER

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 Leaders have missions to accomplish Managers are goal-oriented

Leaders challenge the status quo Managers maintain or try to

achieve the status quo

Leaders are unique Managers mimic their

competitors

Leaders take risk Managers avoid taking risk

Leaders are willing to learn and Managers perfect existing,

grow personally proven skills

Leaders build relationships Managers focus on goals and

objectives

Leaders coach people to become a Managers direct people to

better version of themselves achieve the company go

Leadership skills
Leadership skills are the strengths and abilities individuals demonstrate that
help to oversee processes, guide initiatives and steer their employees toward the
achievement of goals. Leadership skills are an essential component in
positioning executives to make thoughtful decisions about their organization's
mission and goals, and properly allocate resources to achieve those directives.
Valuable leadership skills include the ability to delegate, inspire and
communicate effectively. Other leadership traits include honesty, confidence,
commitment and creativity.

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The following are the important leadership skills:

1. Open communication. A good leader keeps an open line of

communication with team members and can succinctly explain
organizational goals and tasks using different types of communication
channels, such as one-on-one sessions, email, video, chat, phone calls and
social media. An effective leader also shares clear messages and makes
complex ideas easy to understand for everyone.
2. Empathy. Empathetic leadership focuses on identifying with others and
understanding their perspective. Leaders who show empathy are
successful because they can better understand how the employees feel
about their work environment. This enables the leaders to bring positive
changes to the workforce.
3. Strategic thinking. Leaders need strategic and critical thinking skills, as
they are tasked with challenging decision-making. A strong leader makes
well-researched and objectively scrutinized decisions that can lead an
organization toward achieving its goals.
4. Creativity. A creative leader can brainstorm new ideas and inspire others
toward creativity and innovation. For example, a successful leader will
always recognize and reward employees for their creative input.
5. Positivity. A great leader brings positivity into the work environment,
which in turn uplifts the employees and encourages them to perform
better. Positivity can be cultivated by showing care, respect, diplomacy
and empathy toward the team.
6. Flexibility. The best leaders get out of their comfort zones and quickly
adapt to changing work conditions. They wear multiple hats and can
problem solve and improvise on the fly. A successful leader also
promotes employee engagement and is willing to accept constructive
feedback from the team.

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7. Conflict resolution. A great leader not only knows how to avoid
conflicts in the workplace but can also resolve them in an efficient and
timely manner. While resolving conflicts, the leader stays level-headed
and decides analytically.
8. Time management. This is an essential skill for leaders, as they need to
delegate tasks, prioritize commitments, set attainable goals and multitask.
Successful leaders practice time management skills by setting SMART
goals for themselves and their team members.
9. Reliability. A strong leader is dependable and one that people can count
on for fulfilling commitments and meeting deadlines. This encourages the
team to appreciate the leader's decisions and follow in their footsteps.
10.Mentorship. Great leaders are always ready to mentor and teach to bring
out the best in their employees. They put in a lot of effort to make the
team successful by using positive reinforcement, clarity, motivation and
by rewarding achievements.
11.Recognizing potential. Great leaders have a keen eye for recognizing
potential talent and competencies in the workplace. They also don't shy
away from acknowledging the abilities and achievements of their
employees.
12.Responsibility. The success and failure of a team ride on the shoulders of
a leader. Therefore, leaders should be accountable for their actions and
willing to take the blame when mishaps happen. Great leaders take
responsibility and devise strategies for improvement instead of pointing
fingers and blaming others.

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Differences Authority and Leadership

Sl.No. Authority
Leadership

It comes with It is a personality trait that

the position, some people naturally
meaning it's have, while others work
given. hard to develop this
attribute.

Authority
involves
giving orders,
which is part
of the job