Leadership has long been associated with individuals in power, authority or influence positions. However, the true essence of leadership lies not in one’s title or status but in their ability to inspire, influence and empower others.
You are an effective leader if you can create new leaders. People under your authority do not just follow all your orders. They should have the characteristics of being observant, skeptical, transparent, influential and responsible. Do not teach them just to accept the current practices. Train them to add value to their work. It is also a must to enhance their listening skills. You can benefit from the experiences of others and might inherit their wisdom and knowledge.
Dr. Sunny Jeong (2020) stated that everyone could be a leader. Everyone, if they will, is capable of being a leader. Leadership is not about showcasing intimidation. It shouldn’t also be associated with status in life. To be an effective leader, one must first think as if they are in the position of their team members.
Having the perspective of your team members in mind will allow you to understand not only their challenges and struggles but also their vision and goals as individuals. This is very important: leaders must know the strengths and weaknesses of their team members. Leaders must utilize the team members’ assets and organize their team’s system most efficiently and respectfully. Leaders should always lead with their followers in mind.
Second, the leader should know how to communicate. With equal confidence and self-esteem, the leader must relay their vision to the team members appropriately and respectfully. The leader must communicate with them frequently so that an exchange of information will continue and create an environment where the leader is approachable and reliable. Communicating properly is also essential for building trust and compassion with everyone on the team.
Third, the leader should be humble. There is a saying that “there is no ‘I’ in a team. Each of the team members is important and serves a role. The leader should always be humble for ease of engagement, creating a culture of acceptance, and a good employee experience.
The leader should also be reserved rather than acting in a rushed manner. A good leader should be able to listen to all sides first and have a rational judgment at all times. They should be able to take criticism positively rather than take it as an attack on or insult to their leadership. A good amount of reservation and doubt is good as long as there is also a continuous search for an answer or solution. They should also hear their team members’ opinions rather than acting solely on their own.
Fourth, a leader should inspire the team. They must show acts of encouragement and not be afraid to lead change. Changes are always present when developing a team. The leader must be brave and always be there to help them through any struggles the team might face.
Lastly, the leader should always create accountability on their end. Responsibility is always expected of every leader. A culture of accountability must always start with the leader. Accountability creates an environment that allows the team members to be efficient and have responsibility on their minds.
Leadership is not confined to a specific group but is a quality within each individual. Empowering individuals to recognize their leadership potential and encouraging them to embrace their unique abilities can lead to a more inclusive and vibrant society where everyone can positively impact and inspire change.
The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, DLSU. She can be reached at marie_bautista@dlsu.edu.ph.
The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty, and its administrators.