Effective leadership:What makes a successful leader?

People wonder what traits of a good leader contribute to successful leadership in business. There is no formula for good leadership, but self-awareness can enhance effectiveness. The rules of the game are not static and effective leadership requires adaptability. The debate on effective leadership qualities is important for leaders to understand. New research and leadership development bring up new paradigms that successful leaders need to embrace, moving beyond traditional leadership.  

The success of any leader depends on the characteristics of the leader and the successful leadership skills and drivers they possess, as well as the type of leader they choose to be. of the followers, the task in hand, the available resources, the business ecosystem, and a host of emotional intelligence factors. The leaders do not work in any silos. The context plays a vital role in determining the leadership style and the qualities of a good leader, especially in the face of organizational change.  

Tips for successful leadership in business

Many models and theories of business leadership have been developed and proposed in business schools. From the old days of ‘The Great Man approach to leadership suggests that leaders at every level can benefit from a list of leadership qualities. theory and ‘The Traits Effective leadership communication is crucial for success. theory of important leadership qualities to the Transactional and Transformational theories; many theories on key leadership skills have been developed and researched.  

The very recent study has been the ‘Centered Leadership’ concept that talks about creating a collective resolve and developing an alignment of a shared vision for creating a successful business organization. 

 Some leaders are ‘Eventful Men’ who have leadership thrust upon them by the situation and business contexts; and some leaders are ‘Event-Making Men’ who leave their marks by their decision-making abilities, risk-taking appetites, clarity of vision, and sheer strength of character, which are all key successful leadership qualities.  

Academics and business professionals have all tried to create leadership models to better understand what makes certain business leaders tick, focusing on effective leadership communication and resilient leadership. It is an endless debate on the specific traits of great leaders and whether leaders are born, or managers can be groomed and developed as great leaders with the right leadership qualities. One thing certain is that there is no all-weather science of leadership; instead, successful leadership means adapting to different contexts and challenges. It is a combination of science and art that effective leaders must master.  

Certain leadership styles can enhance leadership in organisations and help you become an effective leader. ‘Emergent Traits include self-awareness and other essential qualities of a good leader that every leader should possess.’ these are hereditary, which help individuals become good leaders. However, there are a large number of characteristics that are known as different leadership styles that can influence success. Effectiveness Traits are often linked to the core leadership skills that define successful leaders and the traits of a good leader.’ These skills could be acquired over a period of time with practice, training, and coaching to develop leadership competency and take the next step toward success.  

Examples abound with cases where business leaders are hugely successful with one or a few ventures, but the same individuals fail miserably at other firms. There is much more to successful leadership than what is obvious and visible to every leader, including the need to possess these 12 core leadership traits.  

Positive engagement

Business leaders must ‘Positively Engage’ with themselves, team members, and other stakeholders to foster employee engagement. There must be sharing of a common vision and agreement on the road map for effective and efficient business performances, as effective leaders must facilitate this process. Leaders must ensure that personal and organizational goals are well aligned to foster a cohesive approach to successful leadership.  

The importance of spatial thinking in the workplace and why it is crucial for strategic leadership

Moreover, this must also happen with business partners, investors, and external stakeholders, in general, to ensure effective leadership. Leaders must communicate with clarity and transparency with the stakeholders, as compassionate leadership requires leaders to foster strong relationships. The stakeholders must know the essential qualities that contribute to successful leadership, including the need for compassionate leadership. ‘What is in it?’ for them.  

• Engage with Self to cultivate essential leadership skills and self-awareness, which are important for leaders
• Engage with Team Members
• Engage with other stakeholders to foster strong relationships and facilitate organizational change. 

Alignment of objectives

A collective resolve and alignment of a common vision are important ingredients for any successful team, especially in developing your leadership. The leader must engage with the self and invest time and energy in learning and upgrading key leadership skills for successful leadership development, ready to take the next step in their journey. It is suggested that leaders at every level need to invest, at least, 10% of their time in self-development and leadership training courses.  

It is critical as businesses are conducted in a given environment with competitors and many other stakeholders having diverse objectives and viewpoints that successful leaders must navigate. Leaders must also embody the qualities of successful leadership. Effective leaders communicate with other stakeholders in a way where their objects and interests seem to converge.  

A great and successful business leader must develop positive emotions around the shared vision and must deal with the stakeholders with empathy. The journey of any business leader is full of challenges and hence a high dose of commitment and drive is necessary for sustained success.

Author – Syed Shahid Imam (Senior Faculty) at the Center for Creative Leadership

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