Are great leaders born to lead?

Traits of a Good Leader

You could spot a good leader by observing his speech, action and vision. People of a country being followers eternally have an eye on the leader because he is the one who will drive them to achieve their dreams.

Charmaine Fernando

The world admires a leader who inspires his followers, stands by them in turmoil and shares their joy in triumph. Whether a leader is born or made, what actually matters is the ability to lead from the front, confidently, winning the confidence of those who look up to you. When confronted with challenges, for that matter, every challenge is a unique one, a leader will have enough strength to face it and enough stamina to sustain throughout the period and enough brilliance to come through, blazing new trails, shedding new light, leading through innovation and foresight that spell victory.

Quotes on leadership

There are many witty sayings and quotations on what leadership means to the people and society at large. Harold R. McAlindon says that ‘A leader may not follow where the path may lead. He goes instead where there is no path and leaves a trail’. Thomas Carlyle’s describes leadership in simple words; ‘The history of the world is but the biography of great men’. Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe said many things about many things; but on the subject of leadership he vows, ‘What chance gathers,is easily scattered. A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together’.

The real leader has no need to lead; he is content to point the way says Henry Miller. ‘Rely on your own strength of body and soul. Take for your star, your self-reliance, faith, honesty and industry.

Don’t take too much advice; keep at the helm and steer your own ship, and remember that the great art of commanding is to take a fair share of the work. Fire above the mark you intend to hit. Energy, invincible determination with the right motive, are the levers that move the world’, insists Noah Porter. John Quincy Adams believes that ‘If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader’.

Do you have what it takes? He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander warns Aristotle, the great philosopher who left his mark on the minds of the world, with his powerful thinking. ‘A general is just as good or just as bad as the troops under his command make him’ outlines General Douglas MacArthur, showing the other side of the leadership coin leaving us food for thought to munch over. ‘Managers are people who do things right, while leaders are people who do the right thing’ defines Warren Bennis, giving us a clearer picture as to who the actual and true leader is.

Defining leadership qualities

Some people argue and counter argue whether leaders are made or born. The true leader ignores such concerns and instead concentrates on how to become better at leading people. The U.S. military leadership model is based on an overview of all great leaders, not just warriors. Thus, it is not surprising that it also captures non-warriors. In such a model, followers determine if a person is a great leader or not. Leadership can be defined as one’s ability to get others to willingly follow. Leaders can be found and nurtured if you have the leadership character traits.

What are leaders made of?

A leader with vision has a clear, vivid picture of where to go, as well as a firm grasp on what success looks like and how to achieve it. A leader sees the big picture. But it’s not enough to have a vision; leaders must also share it and act upon it. We in Sri Lanka experienced the dawning of peace after three decades of blood shed and suffering. Good leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision and relentlessly drive it to completion. That’s what great leaders are made of.

Leadership in action

A leader must be able to communicate his or her vision in terms that cause followers to buy into it. He or she must communicate clearly and passionately, as passion is contagious. A good leader must have the discipline to work toward his or her vision single-mindedly, as well as to direct his or her actions and those of the team toward the goal. Action is the mark of a leader. A leader does not suffer analysis paralysis but is always doing something in pursuit of the vision, inspiring others to do the same.

Integrity is the integration of outward actions and inner values. A person of integrity is the same on the outside and on the inside. Such an individual can be trusted because he or she never veers from inner values, even when it might be expeditious to do so. A leader must have the trust of followers and therefore must display integrity. Honest dealings, predictable reactions, well-controlled emotions, and an absence of tantrums and harsh outbursts are all signs of integrity. A leader who is centered in integrity will be more approachable by followers.

Leading by example

Dedicating whatever time or energy is necessary to accomplish the task at hand. A leader inspires dedication by example, doing whatever it takes to complete the next step toward the vision. By setting an excellent example, leaders can show followers that there are no nine-to-five jobs, only opportunities to achieve something great.

Magnanimity, another great trait of a leader means giving credit where it is due. A magnanimous leader ensures that credit for successes is spread as widely as possible throughout the territory.

Conversely, a good leader takes personal responsibility for failures. This sort of reverse magnanimity helps other people feel good about themselves and draws the people closer together. To spread the fame and take the blame is a hallmark of effective leadership.

Feeling the pulse of the people Leaders with humility recognize that they are no better or worse than other members. A humble leader is not self-effacing but rather tries to elevate everyone. Leaders with humility also understand that their status does not make them a God. Mahatma Gandhi is a role model for world leaders and he pursued a ‘follower-centric’ leadership role.

Openness and being able to listen to new ideas, even if they do not conform to the usual way of thinking is a good leadership quality. Good leaders are able to suspend judgment while listening to others’ ideas, as well as accept new ways of doing things that someone else thought of. Openness builds mutual respect and trust between leaders and followers, and it also keeps the people well supplied with new ideas that can further its vision.

Be assertive; not aggressive

Assertiveness, the, is not the same as aggressiveness. Rather, it is the ability to clearly state what one expects so that there will be no misunderstandings.

A leader must be assertive to get the desired results. Along with assertiveness comes the responsibility to clearly understand what followers expect from their leader. Many have difficulty striking the right amount of assertiveness.

It seems that being under-assertive or over-assertive may be the most common weakness among aspiring leaders. This is where true self-discipline applies.

Think different; be the difference

Creativity is the ability to think differently, to get outside of the box that constrains solutions. Creativity gives leaders the ability to see things that others have not seen and thus lead followers in new directions. Fairness in dealing with others consistently and justly is a must. A leader must check all the facts and hear everyone out before passing judgment. He or she must avoid leaping to conclusions based on incomplete evidence. When people feel they that are being treated fairly, they reward a leader with loyalty and dedication. These are the best practices of good governance and great leadership.

A sense of humor is vital to relieve tension and boredom, as well as to defuse hostility. Effective leaders know how to use humor to energize followers. Humor is a form of power that provides some control over the work environment. And simply put, humor fosters good camaraderie. Intrinsic traits such as intelligence, good looks, height and so on are not necessary to become a leader. Its all about cultivating proper leadership traits.

Honest

Display sincerity, integrity, and candor in all your actions. Deceptive behavior will not inspire trust.

Competent

Base your actions on reason and moral principles. Do not make decisions based on childlike emotional desires or feelings.

Forward-looking

Set goals and have a vision of the future. The vision must be owned throughout the territory. Effective leaders envision what they want and how to get it. They habitually pick priorities stemming from their basic values.

Inspiring

Display confidence in all that you do. By showing endurance in mental, physical, and spiritual stamina, you will inspire others to reach for new heights. Take charge when necessary.

Intelligent

Read, study, and seek challenging assignments.

Fair-minded - Show fair treatment to all people. Prejudice is the enemy of justice. Display empathy by being sensitive to the feelings, values, interests, and well-being of others. They are by nature broad-minded and by instinct seek out diversity.

Courageous

Have the perseverance to accomplish a goal, regardless of the seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Display a confident calmness when under stress. They never burst under strain or lose their minds. Their controlled, composed and subdued natures win confidence.

Straightforward

Use sound judgment to make a good decision at the right time.

Imaginative

Make timely and appropriate changes in your thinking, plans, and methods. Show creativity by thinking of new and better goals, ideas, and solutions to problems. Be innovative!

If by good fortune, you are not blessed with leader qualities by birth, go work at acquiring some great leadership traits and make a habit of it. Remember, practice makes perfect!

Standard Bearers

Establish the ethical framework within an organization or territory you claim.

This demands a commitment to live and defend the climate and culture that you want to permeate your organization.

What you set as an example will soon become the rule as unlike knowledge, ethical behavior is learned more by observing than by listening.

And in fast moving situations, examples become certainty. Being a standard bearer creates trust and openness in your employees, who in turn, fulfill your visions

Developers

Help others learn through teaching, training, and coaching. This creates an exciting place to work and learn.

Never miss an opportunity to teach or learn something new yourself. Coaching suggests someone who cares enough to get involved by encouraging and developing others who are less experienced. Employees who work for developers know that they can take risks, learn by making mistakes, and winning in the end.

Integrators

orchestrate the many activities that take place throughout an organization by providing a view of the future and the ability to obtain it. Success can only be achieved when there is a unity of effort.

Integrators have a sixth sense about where problems will occur and make their presence felt during critical times.

They know that their employees do their best when they are left to work within a vision-based framework.

Honesty as a Leadership Trait

It is important to exhibit these traits. Simply possessing each trait is not enough; you have to display it in a way that people notice.

People want to see you demonstrating these traits not just assuming that you have them.

It isn’t enough to just be neutral. For example, just because you are not dishonest will not cause people to recognize that you are honest.

Just avoiding displays of incompetence won’t inspire the same confidence as truly displaying competence.

The focus of each of these five traits needs to be on what people see you do not just the things they don’t see you do. Being honest isn’t a matter of not lying’ it is taking the extra effort to display honesty.

Forward-Looking as a Leadership Trait

The whole point of leadership is figuring out where to go from where you are now. While you may know where you want to go, people won’t see that unless you actively communicate it with them.

Remember, these traits aren’t just things you need to have, they are things you need to actively display to those around you.

Competency as a Leadership Trait

People want to follow someone who is competent. This doesn’t mean a leader needs to be the foremost expert on every area but they need to be able to demonstrate competency.

For a leader to demonstrate that they are competent, it isn’t enough to just avoid displaying incompetence.

Some people will assume you are competent because of your leadership position, but most will have to see demonstrations before deciding that you are competent.

Inspiration as a Leadership Trait

People want to be inspired. In fact, there is a whole class of people who will follow an inspiring leader even when the leader has no other qualities. Being inspiring is usually just a matter of communicating clearly and with passion. Being inspiring means telling people how you are going to change the world they live in; their country.

Talking of leaders we had quite a few outstanding world leaders in our life time.

‘The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy said the much revered leader and visionary, Martin Luther King, Jr. expanding the scope of great leadership. Mahatma Gandhi, was one who pioneered ‘Satyagraha’ and headed the Indians in the famous ‘Quit India’ Movement, which proved groundbreaking for the Indians in the attainment of freedom. He was instrumental in ending the harassment of untouchables. Throughout life, he stood by non-violence and truthfulness.

However it is interesting to note that every country doesn’t have a leader born as a son of their soil. We have one. A great one at that!