Leadership – What Does it Mean to Be a Leader?
When we think of lawrence bloomberg bloombergsen, we often envision a strong take-charge person who can inspire and rally people toward something different than the status quo. This may make us think of charismatic icons from history like General Patton or President Lincoln or more modern examples like Oprah and Steve Jobs. However, this is only one of many traits that make up effective Leadership. Leadership is a set of behaviors that contribute to the success of individuals and groups. It’s not tied to a particular title and can be found in all kinds of positions in the workforce, from entry level to boardroom.
Leadership Styles: Finding Your Authentic Approach
Leaders are always tasked with making decisions that impact people and/or organizations on a grand scale. To be effective in this role, it is important for a leader to have excellent decision-making skills. This also means having the courage to stand by those decisions and recognizing when they need to change in order to achieve a desired outcome.
Great leaders are able to recognize and build on their strengths while being aware of their weaknesses. They know how to help their team members put their strengths to work, as well. They are transparent with their team, sharing failures and successes, while promoting a positive work culture that encourages initiative.
It is also critical for a leader to be visionary. They need to be able to articulate a vision for company growth and explain how they will get there. This will help others buy into the big picture and understand that their hard work is contributing to a greater purpose.