And take note, leadership isn’t about the titles, or even the credentials. Effective leadership is much more meaningful, impactful and profound. It’s earned and worked for. Every effective leader needs to possess and/or work towards their goals and vision. So what makes an effective leader?

Here they are;

Good leaders are decisive

Effective leadership is about not wasting time. That includes the time needed to make decisions. More often than not, so much time can be wasted in the decision-making process that many opportunities are missed. Production sometimes even comes to a halt. Good leaders are all about making informed decisions, but are always mindful of the timeframes involved. And once a decision is made, they commit to it and see things through.

 They practice what they preach

Set a good example. Let’s be honest.  How can you as a leader expect your team to deliver, when you don’t keep your word or do the right thing? Impossible, right?

Effective leadership, in essence, also involves leading by example. It’s hard to respect someone who asks everyone to come on time, or work towards a certain goal if that person isn’t willing to come on time or put in their share of the work themselves. Many times, good leaders set the bar — and meet it — instead of just talking down to everyone.

 They don’t lose sight of goals

Effective leaders are problem-solvers. Or at the very least, they don’t dwell on problems and instead focus on working towards a solution. They don’t have the answers all the time, but they sure will always be working to get answers. They don’t complain and instead look forward and move forward, always keeping in mind the goals they set at the beginning, and always looking at the bigger picture.

They are passionate about what they do

Effective leadership is believing in what one is doing. Good leaders don’t and will never say, “It’s just a job,” “They are just my employees “or “I just work here.” They care about what they do, they care about the organization, and they care about the people they lead and work with.

Good leaders are humble and accountable

This plays into the aspect of effective leadership that relies on generating respect that is earned, instead of relying on one’s position or title in the organization. It is humility that makes great leaders open-minded and willing to listen to others and even take constructive criticism. They don’t let pride get in the way of accomplishing goals and executing their vision for the business. They are also willing to take responsibility for their actions and don’t point fingers at the people they work with when things go south.

They give credit where credit is due

Often you’ll hear the story about the boss that stole an idea, or took credit for someone else’s accomplishment. Good leaders share the glory, and are quick to credit a team member or colleague for a good idea. They know that success is through teamwork, and they respect the contribution and work other people make.

Help people grow

Great leaders’ help people grow. They willingly share what they know and look out for learning opportunities for the people they work with (or the people who work for them). They build up the team and foster strong relationships, rapport and cooperation within that team.

Bottom line;

We could talk endlessly about this topic. There is so much one can do and say when it comes to leadership. Every organization should do its best to enable effective leadership. Organizations, in general, should be open to doing things differently and be cognizant of how they market is evolving and how customers are changing. Good leaders need a good support system in order for them to function well.

Are you looking to unlock and maximize your potential as a leader? Start by signing up for this Leadership & Management skills training to secure your future career in leadership!