Leadership – Empowering You and Your Team

Warner Burke (Executive Power, Jossey-Bass 1986) suggests that “leaders tend to be those who have sufficient presence and self belief to be able to recognise the many ways of controlling and directing situations, from a position of clear understanding of themselves”.
A good leader needs many and diverse skills to enable employees to perform to high standards to ensure organisational goals and corporate objectives are achieved.
It is important for a good leader to be able to motivate team members. The ability to think positively and practically is essential. If the leader is negative and unreasonable members of staff will be dragged down and not achieve the productivity required. Forward looking and a good internal ‘SAT NAV’ will stand the whole team in good stead for the road forward and reaching the ultimate ‘destination’ will be guaranteed.
During the ‘journey’, a good leader needs to be observant. Recognising the strengths and talents of individual team members is necessary so that they can be used to make the task more effective and easier. The ability to listen and be open-minded is also an essential attribute. If employees are confident and comfortable putting their ideas and thoughts forward problems can be dealt with and solutions found without difficulty. It is vital to use the experience within the team to accomplish the task at hand. Respect and loyalty are fundamental qualities and the first rate leader remembers that this runs up and down. Encouraging each person to develop their own particular skills will make them feel valued. It will also mean that the leader can delegate tasks in the full knowledge that they will be expertly executed. A good leader needs the vision to see the plan through and express it in such a way that the rest of the team knows what they have to do as individuals.
A leader has to have confidence, knowledge and understanding of what is expected. Up-to date information on trends and jargon will allow the team to be guided from a position of strength. However a talented leader will remember that knowledge is not always about having all the answers but also knowing who to ask or where to look for a solution.
Stress at work is on the increase and a high calibre leader will monitor team members to ensure that stress does not become detrimental either to the individual or the group. In many cases a sympathetic ear or a piece of advice can sort the problem immediately but sometimes it takes a little longer. Empathy and compassion are vital attributes, however the ability to recognise when an individual may be better off in a different role or perhaps a new post is crucial for the benefit of all concerned. It is imperative to discover the cause of stress and find an amicable and practical solution for all parties.
In conclusion the role of a good leader is to have the vision to plan and execute strategic organisational goals and corporate objectives using the skills and competencies of those within the company. To recognise and nurture talent to equip employees to take on responsibilities whilst monitoring levels of stress and to encourage honest and open discussion within teams to enable successful completion of the task.