What makes a good leader?
Here is SOME of what it takes is what it takes in general to be successful.
· Learning head and heart and soul
· Engagement
· Visionary and Influencer
· Aspects of different kinds of leadership used at different points with different situations and people
A good leader is open and ready to learn, for oneself and as a model
A while ago I gave a talk in a small business on learning and what the MD said before I started was key: “I have had coaches and supervisors to grow and learn; you should consider the opportunity for yourselves.” She even said there were funds budgeted in the employees’ further education budgets for such activities. What a model!
A successful leader values and encourages employee engagement
In Switzerland, the average percentage of engaged employees is less than 15%, according to Gallup. This is extremely low, but in line with the DACH region.
Leadership is Usually seen as visionary and influencing in a positive way
Not only is engagement important, but how the leader shares the vision, and encourages the employees is very key. It can be a deal maker – or breaker – as to whether an engaged employee stays or goes.
A successful leader knows how to use various roles to bring about success
Robert E Quinn has a “Competing Values Framework” that can be helpful for measuring your leadership skills for the roles needed: team builder/facilitator, mentor, innovator/pioneer, broker/networker, director (of strategy), producer, controller and coordinator. All of these roles have skills to develop and use as a leader, and when necessary, to develop and encourage in the upcoming leadership under you.
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