There is a massive range of experiences and viewpoints on what it takes to
be an effective business leader. However, leadership is not about a particular job or
seniority. Long-term employment does not mean someone has developed the leadership
qualities and skills to lead a team.
Similarly, being promoted to a managerial position does not immediately make someone a
leader. Moreover, CEOs and other high-ranking officials don’t always have all the necessary
qualities to lead. There are certain fundamentals that experts agree are essential for leading
a team to success.
In this article, we will talk about the characteristics of becoming a good leader. How do
empathy, flexibility & inclusion make for the best leaders?
What Makes The Best Leaders?
You can be a role model for a team in any situation, having leadership skills. Acquiring and
honing specific skills is an essential part of becoming a good leader. Successful leaders come
from various backgrounds, whether at home, at school, or in the industry.
A successful leader makes hard decisions, believes in the team, shares visions,
communicates effectively, and inspires other members. All these qualities of a leader help
to a make successful venture. But to grow these qualities, the most important
characteristics you need are empathy, flexibility, and inclusion.
Empathy
Empathy is simply putting oneself in another person’s shoes. Empathy is the ability to
comprehend another person’s ideas, feelings, and situation from their perspective rather
than one’s own. The quality encourages people to engage in prosocial or helpful acts that
occur naturally rather than being coerced.
Empathy can be divided into three categories:
● Being able to understand and respond correctly to another person’s feelings is
referred to as effective empathy.
● Somatic empathy is when you physically experience what another person is going through.
● When you have cognitive empathy, that will help understand another person’s
mental state, such as thinking about something.
Empathy results in a team that is more loyal and engaged. It is a powerful tool for forming
friendships and demonstrates that you care for, value, and comprehend others. As a leader,
your staff will be more devoted, happier, and productive if they feel valued, appreciated,
and cared for. Employees will be willing to put in more effort when their bosses express
empathy, according to studies on Emotional Intelligence.
You can enhance the skill of empathy by following simple steps.
● Try to know people better, such as their background and interest.
● Don’t rush to judgment or criticism.
● Become more aware of other members’ needs.
● Be genuine towards others, perhaps even a little vulnerable.
● Listen more to other team members and talk less.
Flexibility
In today’s quickly changing economic and social climate, flexibility is becoming an
increasingly vital trait. Flexible leaders are capable of changing their leadership style or
strategy in response to changing or unpredictable conditions. Leaders who are relaxed can also
adapt to changes as they occur.
However, simply being open to new behaviors is insufficient to produce a flexible leader.
First and foremost, as an adaptable leader, you must identify when old habits aren’t working.
Then you have to decide how to approach the challenge, including what new behaviors
or approaches are conceivable, and which would achieve the objectives.
Finally, after a new path has been chosen, you need to assess the current success
and monitor the progress of new behaviors, as well as re-evaluate failing behaviors.
To become a more flexible leader, you can start doing these three things right now.
- Look for places where you can be more flexible.
- Pay attention to what others have to say.
- Examine your progress.
Inclusion
Diverse thinking must be respected, handled, heard, and utilized, which necessitates
inclusive leadership. Inclusive leaders who understand how various minds react to change
are particularly positioned to communicate and influence.
Embracing people’s individuality is the key to staying up with an ever-changing climate nowadays.
It is critical to incorporate inclusive diversity into the workplace and recognize and
celebrate the unique individuals who make up your organization.
Your workers’ diverse experiences and perspectives reflect the target demographics
for your firm, and they should be incorporated into your marketing plan.
Most leaders have very little free time due to their hectic schedules, and it’s easy to become
get stuck rather than looking ahead. You will, however, unavoidably fall behind if you do
not add inclusion in characteristics. Taking five minutes to check in with an employee or being
observant of others during a meeting can go a long way.
Here are some suggestions for bringing inclusiveness into your work zone:
- Communication with other members.
- Consider various perspectives.
- Broaden your mind space.
Final Thought
My sincere hope is that this message helps you become the best leader possible.
Incorporate the qualities highlighted above into your character to be a successful leader. It
doesn’t matter whether you belong to the corporate or production business; leadership
qualities can be learned. I highly encourage you to examine leaders you admire and jot down
a few key characteristics that resonate with you most. You can improve your leadership
style by incorporating these traits to guide your team to success.