No matter what industry your business is in, every successful leader must possess certain qualities if they want to be highly influential. As individuals, we can most likely name a good leader and a bad leader that has affected us in our lifetime. It should be important for you to strive to be a good leader for your employees and for those people that you are directly connected with. To do this you must stay aware of the following qualities of highly effective leaders.
“If a leader doesn’t convey passion and intensity then there will be no passion and intensity within the organization and they’ll start to fall down and get depressed.”
-Colin Powell
If you’re not excited about your work, how do you expect your employees to be excited? As a leader you must feel the fire inside of you, and you must not be afraid to show it!
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
-Nelson Mandela
How do you expect to succeed if you are afraid to try new things? When growing a business, you may think that it is important to make all of the right decisions, but the reality is that one of the best ways to grow is to make mistakes. By being courageous and taking risks, you will learn so much more than you would if you took the safe route.
“I try to make my mood uplifting and peaceful, then watch the world around me reflect that mood.”
-Yaya DaCosta
Even if your employee makes a huge mistake, always be their biggest fan and help them up from the situation. Every mistake should be a learning experience. Remember that you are dealing with a person’s happiness in life, so you should always remain a positive influence for your employees.
“Trust leads to approachability and open communications.”
-Scott Weiss
Don’t look down on your employees and position yourself as a superior. Try to keep an open relationship with them, while still maintaining leadership. The feedback of your employees is crucial to the growth of your company, so it is important to be approachable and welcome communications across your team.
“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”
-Anthony D’Angelo
In order to be a leader, it is important to never stop growing as an individual. As you accumulate new knowledge, you will discover ways that you can grow your business. You should also be able to lend ideas and wisdom to your employees so they can grow as individuals.