Kamis, 20 September 2012


It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership. - Nelson Mandela

A leader is not just a position; it is the quality of a person who takes the charge of guiding a team through the respective process or task to achieve the set goal. Business leadership is a very important aspect of a process in the corporate world. A leader has to get the task done from his subordinates, along with maintaining healthy relations with them. There are some leader attributes that one has to possess in order to become a good leader who gets the tasks done on time as well is a favorite of his subordinates.

Essential Leadership Types

Typically, there are just three major leadership styles in management; such as participative leadership, autocratic leadership, and laissez faire leadership. Note that these different styles are further divided into many other ones classified according to specific behavior and leading techniques. In participative leadership style, the team manager is open for suggestions from his subordinates for deciding on a decision. The final decision rests on the leader himself though. In autocratic leadership style, the leader is solely responsible for the decision-making process and does not involve team members for coming up with potential solutions. In the laissez faire leadership style, the leader leaves the work on the members, without dominating and interfering their method of working. Other subtypes are enlisted in the following:
  • Situational Leadership
  • Bureaucratic Leadership
  • Transactional Leadership
  • Transformational Leadership
  • Charismatic Leadership
  • Task-oriented Leadership
  • Relation-oriented Leadership
  • Servant Leadership
Leadership Attributes and Skills

Decision Making: This is no doubt one of the most essential skills that is required for a leader. Though a leader should obtain advice from corporate peers and other managers, he has to be firm in whatever decision he makes.

Problem Solving: As in the aforementioned quote from Nelson Mandela, people will only consider you a good leader if you take the most prominent problem solving step in leading a team during an issue. A leader surely has to be tactful in solving professional problems at the workplace.

Effective Communication: No goal can ever be achieved without effective workplace communication in the team members, leader, and other related practices. A leader should be touch with the team members regarding the current status of the projects.

Cooperation and Guidance: If a leader is unwilling to cooperate, he will not be able to get the job done with the support of the team members. Remember that a good leader will always give useful knowledge, guidance, and understanding to his subordinates.

Listening and Understanding: Listening and understanding are significant aspects when it comes to settling down a complicated matter. A team leader should first listen to the problem, understand what caused it, and then act accordingly.

Employee Motivation: If there is no employee motivation provided, employees tend to produce less as compared to that when they are in high spirits and motivated. Motivation to employees can be provide with recognition awards, incentives, and other such techniques.

Professional Standards and Policies: A team leader necessarily has to consider professional standards and policies of the company while being in leadership. He has to follow a particular code of conduct while taking every decision.

Patience: Patience is also a very significant trait. A leader should be patient with the employee productivity and performance. He should not become impatient and take decisions which would be inappropriate for the task to be carried out.

There are many other leadership qualities such as confidence, assertiveness, adaptability to every possible situation, intelligence, etc. Remember that all these leadership traits and characteristics make a good leader.

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