As the saying goes “There are leaders and there are followers”. A person with superb leadership skills takes time, energy and commitment. This is a person who has strong principles, courage and dedication to a clear vision. People follow a greast leader because he is representative of the beliefs of a group. The followers of the leader often provide the necessary support for the team to advance and succeed in achieving their goals. An individual with good leadership skills will recognize and reward the team for the greater cause. These Special skills of a leader draw a demarcation line from others. 1.1 Definition of Leadership
Leadership is influencing people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation, while operating to accomplish the mission and improve the organization. Leadership is a function of knowing yourself, having a vision that is well communicated, building trust among colleagues, and taking effective action to realize your own leadership potential. 2.0 Principles Of Leadership
“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.”- By (Winston Churchill) 2.1 Ten Principles:
1.Who am I? Know yourself and seek self-improvement. This is developed by strengthening one’s attributes by reading and self-study. 2. Be technically proficient. As a leader, you must know your job and the duties performed by your employees’. 3.Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions. Take new initiation methods when things go wrong, do not blame others. 4.Make sound and timely decisions. Use good problem solving, decision-making, and planning tools. 5.Set the example. Be a good role model for you employees. They will believe what they see not what they hear. 6.What are your employees for you, know their inner nature or human nature and the importance of sincerely caring for your workers. 7.Keep proper updates. Know how to communicate with your people, seniors, and other key people within the organization. 8.Develop a sense of accountability, ownership and responsibility in your people. These traits will help them carry out their professional responsibilities. 9.Ensure that tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished. Communication is the key to this responsibility. 10.Train your people as a team. By developing team spirit.
“The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.” – Theodore M. Hesburgh 2.2 Core Roles (success in leadership blog)
Achieving the task is dependent not only on a clear plan, but on individuals being motivated and the group pulling together. The group can only effectively operate if the task is achievable and well defined and the individuals are motivated. The individuals’ development and motivation require the task to be clear and achievable and the group to be supportive and effective. In this sense, each role needs to be functioning effectively in order that the other two areas be satisfied. To achieve this equilibrium, the leader must continually perform the functions. 3.0Functions
•Adair's model of Leadership Functions (IMC.org)
3.2 Leadership functions:
1.Defining the task: This sets a clear objective allowing the group and the individual to have a collective goal. 2.Planning: Both leader and team need to be aware of timescales and responsibilities to achieve cohesion, efficiency and clarity of procedure. 3.Briefing: Giving and receiving information and summarizing ideas. This benefits individuals by a sense of inclusion and teams by sharing information as a sign of democracy. 4.Controlling: The leader needs to exercise self-control, but also needs to implement effective control systems on the group and individuals. This ensures standards are met to achieve the task, and builds confidence in the leadership capabilities from the individuals and teams. 5.Evaluating: Continual evaluation of individual and group performance is...