Leadership Philosophy - Article Example

Leadership Philosophy At different stages of one’s career, an individual has to exhibit certain set of skills and qualities, which make him/her, stand out like nobody else. He has to portray the best of his character and bring out what is not present in the rest of the populace. He has to lead by example, a thing which people of present times usually lack and which is not that easily found in our society. Similarly, at the top level, it is very significant to have a clear mind whereby the person can think way beyond his understanding as well as ask of his subordinates to carry out his instructions with accuracy and wisdom. Needless to say, a leader at a senior position has to understand that he/she is the ultimate boss and without his/her proper vision and goals, there can be no other person to fill the void which would be created if his/her thinking and mindset are just not there in the right place. Below is what I believe essential characteristics to being an effective leader: A leader is a person who aims to bring out his best in relationships with the people around him as he constantly asks of them for efforts both in the business concern and in an individual capacity so that the end result is one of success and achievement. Then only can a leader be remarked as a true leader of professionals. The urge within a common man is to become a top class leader and when he ultimately reaches that very position, his efforts are bent upon making himself a true leader who can stay within the minds and hearts of the people around him as well as the ones on which he has some sort of influence and authority. He tries his best to be the top notch amongst the existing lot and even when he retires, does something that will make him remember in good books of the people he had influenced all that time he was a leader for them. It is also true that a leader never dies. He stays a leader even when he is not in power. His skills are immense to deprive him of that stature. The relationships that these leaders create with all and sundry are not only on a persistent basis but are also solid and hold a lot of ground for the people concerned. They believe in collective effort and whole hearted dedication to the common cause that they are working towards. A leader thus makes use of all his skills and abilities to convince the people around him that is a genuine one and can make decisions which would only benefit them and nothing else. A leader never exposes his weaknesses and shortcomings yet he tries his best to overcome the same with utmost ease and a sense of understanding as to how the same can be defeated in a short period of time. The usage of natural abilities and skills on the part of the genuine leaders is immense since they feel it is the very tenet that makes them stand head and shoulders amongst the rest. Real leaders believe in giving powers to the people who are working around them and under a particular scenario. The authentic leaders endeavor to give the people some sort of room so that they could deliver the goods in their best possible capacity and there is enough room to maneuver. This is done so that the people could come up with some sort of difference within the ranks and also try their best to prove something big. Leaders prove to everyone that they are not after personal glory, money or power rather they whole heartedly work for a common cause. The competencies that need to be there in a leader include his presence of mind, use of information and knowledge thus achieved/attained in a tactful manner, understand the proper usage of his strategic goals and tactical actions and lastly pinpoint the areas of strength within his team and cover the loopholes that are present amongst it and are labeled as the points of weakness. These also include his intelligence, assertive behavior, personal values and the determination that he has in order to complete the task at hand. Dignity is something that has to be earned over time and it is only possible when the leader understands the command and the chain of command that is present in his ranks. He must pinpoint the problems that might seem to arise at some point in time and must not let any thing unsettle his plans whatsoever. This comes under the heading of problem management which we discuss next. Problem management and finding where the actual problem basically stems from is an art in its own entirety. This has to be understood in the areas where the problems usually lie and then a brainstorming session must be held. A proper mindset is very essential as far as the leader is concerned since he has to deal with a lot of negativities coming his way. The best thing to counter the same is to remain positive at all times and take problems with his chin high up. This can be bracketed alongside his visionary thinking which is so very imperative to have since becoming a leader in the first place. He needs to visualize what is going to happen next and only then he can envision what is right for his team and what can owe as a complete exercise in blunder for the very same. Thus conceptual thinking and a sound visualization mindset is such an important facet of a leader that can reap instant dividends if the same are applied in an immediate and tactful manner. Moreover, if the leader thinks consistently on a certain angle, more often than not it will lead him and his team towards success and proper framework will be established which could counter the problems thus faced, as discussed before in the problem management paragraph. Diplomacy is another tangent that needs to be touched upon under this heading and it gains more importance in the world of present times since remaining positive can reap benefits for one and all than having a particular side of the story and sticking with it. It is always good to think and eventually act whilst remaining in the center and not taking anyone’s side whilst showing both the parties that the leader is with them in their hour of need and distress. This is a clever move and one that needs to be wisely adjusted, more so since the world today is moving ahead at a fast pace with technology pouring in from left, right and center. One of the more important skills that are required of a leader is that of having determination and dedication to exceeding levels. This means that his physical and mental make up must be of a leader and should not suggest that he is a coward man at any point in time. He must have a heart of a lion and fight like a true soldier even at the worst of times. He must not panic and give up on a task that easily and understand that the whole team depends on his actions alone and look up to him in the hour of problem and distress. The devotion factor must be present within an astute leader at all times. An effective leader can produce the following four outcomes: 1. Synergize the efforts of the whole team into a single entity 2. Bring out the best from the weakest of team members 3. Produce results in the most difficult of circumstances 4. Maintain consistency in achieving targets and attaining positive results. Leadership effectiveness means that the effectiveness of the team becomes apparent when the going gets tough and there are a lot of hurdles in the way of success. Effective leaders accomplish respect from all and sundry and have an edge over the normal leaders which are found just about in every other organization. In the end, it can be said that the competencies found in a leader must definitely outweigh the weaknesses that are in him. BIBLIOGRAPHY Salacuse, Jeswald W. Leading Leaders: How to Manage Smart, Talented, Rich and Powerful 2005 Word Count: 1,368 Read More