What makes an effective leader and how can you become one? By Prof. Neeta Kumar

What makes an effective leader and how can you become one? By Prof. Neeta Kumar

Leadership is a learned behaviour that comes with many attributes. The following leadership qualities can inspire anyone to become a better leader: Good values. To be an effective leader, one should be honest and committed to their leadership role and always remember that their team reflects the values they uphold. Vision. One can't be an effective leader without having a strong vision for current and future growth because a big part of a leader's job is to connect a group of people through a shared vision. A successful leader isn't hesitant about bringing change and pushing the boundaries of what is achievable through their intellect. Creativity. Thinking out of the box is imperative for successful leaders because it enables them to turn challenges into opportunities. Leadership and creativity work together to produce a dynamic workspace. Confidence with humility. Great vision alone can't achieve results if the leader doesn't have the confidence to act. Gaining leadership confidence is a gradual process. Along with confidence, an effective leader should identify good traits in others and focus on the end goal rather than on themselves as the conduct of success. Interpersonal skills. Active listening and soft skills go a long way in a leader's journey toward success. Along with being a good listener, a leader should foster a workspace that promotes open communication, delegation of tasks, responsibility and prompt conflict resolution towards the achievement of organizational goals. Prioritizes continuing education. To stay on top of current industry innovations, successful leaders should keep learning new skills. A great leader not only takes part in continuing education to improve their career path but also evaluates their leadership qualities for areas of improvement. Developing followers. A successful leader is followed by others. By empowering team members with information, tools, skills and professional development opportunities, a leader can successfully help employees reach their career goals. Empathy and concern can also earn leaders their team members' trust. ____________________________________________________________