When we’re asked what a leader means, we might wonder. We might think that we have a good idea, such as perhaps a military general. But we might think that this form of tactical leadership might be missing the form of emotional leadership needed when standing behind troops, ordering them forward to fight. We think of our country’s elected officials as leaders, but no matter your political views, you’ll always find someone who you’re stunned made it into office.
Is a leader someone who just takes charge, or knows how to order people around? Is being able to manage people well necessarily the same as putting them to good use? Is the inverse true? Of course, trying to be a solid leader is not always the best way to look at things. Sometimes looking to be the best version of yourself can help you forward in a more reliable and positive manner, and if you keep this in mind, you might be able to effectively find the right results when you need them.
With that in mind, let us consider what makes a solid leader:
Behind-The-Scenes Work
A leader isn’t a leader from 9-5 each day. They have that mindset most of the time, and understand the importance of laying groundwork, doing research, and putting in the most planning preparation possible to help them move to the next stage. This allows them to lead the team from an informed point of view, rather than sitting back and simply letting their team figure it out. But of course, this work isn’t conducted simply to dictate everything in front of the leader, but to engage with the team, to try and come to the best collaborative understanding possible. Ideally, a leader should be able to conduct most of the work of those under their command, or know how to communicate with the specialists.
Continual Education
A leader must always consider bettering themselves, because they know they are only as good as their last project. Education can come from anywhere. From reading the books of those to take inspiration from, to studying an online masters in leadership and trying to figure out exactly where and when there can be a refined sense of ability, they will often not only be able to assess how to complete work, but if the work is worth taking care of in the first place.
Accountability
A leader should not ‘whip their team into shape’ whenever an issue happens. Instead, they must identify where the error occurred, and how to fix it in the best, most preventative manner. Accountability truly matters also. If they fail in their task, they must never put that blame on the team, but themselves. However, if they succeed, they must relinquish the credit to their team. This is how people will want to work with you, because they know you can be relied on, and will never throw them under the bus.
With these tips, you’re sure to become a solid leader.
