At one point or another, we have faced roles of being a leader or a follower. While both roles are equally important, a leader plays an instrumental role in delegating his followers towards his direction. A good way to identify a leader is to see if his followers are able to accomplish what their leader has told them what to do.
In order to be a great leader, one must possess various qualities that will attract followers to respect them. The following qualities are just of few of the many ones that are vital for an effective leader.
Charisma-A notable charismatic leader is Martin Luther King, Jr. Decades after his death, King is still honored today for his passionate movement towards equality. His most famous speech, "I had a dream," still impacts a current generation as his powerful words grace the majority of history textbooks all over America. His speech radiates personality because of his expressive words in his fight against inequality. In general, world leaders are charismatic enough to lead over large populations. Like King's speech, charismatic leaders have the gift to touch people through their choice of words. Charismatic leaders are alluring, charming and can entice followers to conform to their ideas.
Positive attitude-A leader who possesses a positive attitude will influence his followers to carry out that same notion. An example of a positive leader would be a parent or teacher. A mother, father or elementary teacher are more like role models to the young children they are teaching and nurturing. These role models are the first leaders of their life. Children are dependent on these leaders because they are their vehicles to the outside world. If a parent is nurturing and loving to their child, they will thrive. If a school teacher provides a positive learning experience to the child, they will succeed. In any circumstance, a leader's positive attitude will impact their followers.
Motivation- In an athletic world, a motivating leader would be a coach, trainer or even a fellow teammate. While the talent of players is a good determinant of a winning team, their coach is also an important factor. If a coach cannot produce wins with his team, his job is at stake. A coach's motivation involves raising his players with high standards, setting challenging but attainable goals, and rewarding players with positive feedback as they perform well. Thus, his abilities to motivate his players will enhance their performance. Motivation correlates a lot with having a positive attitude. When a coach has a positive attitude and provides a positive environment for his players, then the team will most likely be motivated to move in his direction.
Assertiveness- A leader has the responsibility to maintain the life of the company. When a leader is firm and assertive in delegating tasks to his subordinates, they will hold a greater respect to carry through their assignments. An assertive leader has the ability to convey enforcement without being too threatening to their subordinates. Furthermore, an assertive leader should not make his subordinates feel like they're in a hostile environment. Instead, an assertive leader should respect his subordinates, yet also know what he expects out of them. A leader's assertiveness and confidence makes them respectable, and it return, followers are more inclined to follow.
Leaders exude many qualities that make them effective. The four qualities observed all compliment each other in constructing a well-balanced leader.
Stephanie Tuia is a client account specialist with 10x Marketing.
For more information on how to conduct a Leadership Training Seminar, visit CMOE

