Any person in a position of authority or influence can be called a leader. Some people are born with leadership qualities while others have leadership thrust upon them. But generally, leadership qualities have to be learnt. Step I: Take the decision to be a leader
A successful leader has a vision or dream for his organization which he is able to convey to and share with his employees. This vision must be true to his personal values and the mission statement of the organization. We respect values and they are the central focus of our lives. Our parents, our upbringing, our faiths, our education and our friendships influence our values.
One way of developing value statements is to quickly jot down a few things that are very important in your life. These could range from ambition, integrity, interest in your children, God, innovativeness, team work, excellence to hard work, honesty, respect, enjoyment, happiness and education. Now, using the above words make value statements for different aspects of your life, in the following affirmative manner:
Family: All my relationships are based on respect, integrity and trust. I shall always endeavor to empower my relationships to fulfill their potential.
Spiritual: My belief and trust in God gives me the strength to believe in myself, my ability to work hard and make my dreams come true.
Work: It is my ambition, for instance, to be the best software solution provider in the country for all the technical requirements of this industry. By educating and encouraging innovativeness, excellence, hard work and integrity I shall achieve my ambition with the support of my team and the leaders
I develop.
Step 2: Set S.M.A.R.T. goals
Goals are guideposts that help you to chart and evaluate your progress. Goals have to be Specific (I shall spend every weekend with my family), Measurable (I shall meditate for 5 minutes everyday), Advertised (I shall make Shekhar my ‘goal buddy’ to motivate me if I go off-track), Realistic (Read at least twelve motivational books in a year) and Time Bound (I shall develop at least three leaders in my organization this year). This process helps you to focus on implementing only those plans that take you towards your goals.
Step 3: Manage your time effectively
Determine your priorities. Discipline yourself to use Pareto’s Law to decide which 20% of your people and activities shall get 80% of your time. Your time would be better spent with the top 20% of your workforce who show leadership qualities. Delegate as much work as possible in order to free up your time for important activities.
The CEO of a leading multinational found a way to prevent unproductive meetings. A memo about the agenda of the meeting is sent to the employees and they are asked to come to the meeting prepared with solutions. Only those who participate fully in the meeting are invited to the next meeting. This has led to the saving of a lot of time and also to greater participation by employees in meetings.
Step 4: Motivate your people
People like to feel important and appreciated. The platinum rule says ‘treat people as they want to be treated’. Spend less time in your office and more time amongst your people. Your attitude will be noticed by your employees, so ensure that you serve as a role model for them. Encourage your employees to upgrade their skills. Support them in taking risks and provide them with the tools they require to perform to their best. Show your appreciation for their work with rewards. Identify those employees having leadership qualities and mentor them. Ask why good people have left your organization and take steps to prevent this happening in the future.
In conclusion, effective leadership traits can be acquired with perseverance and determination.
Sarabjit Jaggi is all-India academic head of ATR Institute of Jewellery Design