“Leaders become great not because of their power but, because of their ability to empower others.” - John Maxwell.

Leaders, as the word suggests, are persons who lead a group of people. They motivate and influence others to follow their suit and most importantly, they are led by the strong passion and the commitment to achieve something great and bring about a positive change to the lives of others. 

So, according to you, what defines a successful leadership? As a small business owner, how do you know if you are a successful leader?
 

Here is a list of traits that we feel are important for a leader to become a visionary charged with steering the organisation in the right direction. And by the end of this article, you would know if you are already a great leader and if not, you can always work towards becoming one. Let’s begin.

6 traits that sets apart a successful leader

1. Promoting diverse thinking and learning

Our work culture has vastly evolved. Systems and processes that we could only imagine a few years ago are quickly becoming the norm and leading a company towards success requires structural thinking and a learning environment where curiosity is appreciated and new thoughts and skills are encouraged. The definition of a new age successful leader is someone who can quickly get on the ‘fail fast and learn faster’ culture. A successful leader encourages employees to brainstorm and experiment with different ideas thereby making them part of the company’s growth process. They teach team members how to gauge the success matrix and determine how their ideas can benefit the organisation.

2. Effective communication

Effective communication is the key to successful leadership. A successful leader understands that open communication with their employees can yield better results in terms of employee productivity. A good leader is someone who clearly states the company objectives and goals to their employees. Unless employees are made aware of your expectations, they won’t be able to work accordingly towards a specific goal. 

Also read: Career value curves

3. Wielding power responsibly

True leaders never lead by fear. As a good leader, it is important to understand the importance of the power you have been bestowed with and to use it effectively to create a healthy work environment.  Remember, fear only makes a person work for you just because they have to and not because they want to. Motivate people to come to work every day. Though it is not practically possible for you to lecture and inspire employees every single day but your actions should be such that they are willing to work for the greater good of the organisation.

4. Being accountable

Good leaders hold themselves accountable for any mistake they make and equally encourage others to do the same. A successful leader is someone who understands that it’s okay to make mistakes but it is also important to acknowledge the same in order to grow as an individual. 

Also read: 5 critical questions for leadership success and life happiness

5. Having a vision for the future

A great leader has a vision for the future and works towards fulfilling the mission that will lead a company towards success. A good leader is full of optimistic energy and constantly inspires people to take chances and not be limited by their inhibitions. In order to be a successful leader, you need to be able to strike a delicate balance between stability and development.

6. Focus on team building and creating irrevocable relationships

A great leader is more than just an influencer. They inspire people to understand the importance of working in a team. Team building is the key to achieving innovation at workplace and all of the above points mentioned above. The real test of being a successful leader lies in hiring and developing the right team to drive the company’s success. 

In addition to appreciating team work, a good leader also works towards creating long lasting relationships with their employees and clients. They make their employees and clients feel valued and this boosts productivity. 

In order to be a successful leader, you also need to network with varied people who can benefit your business. Also, keeping in touch with a diverse group of people helps you know the market and emerging trends better. This in turn helps you push forward with a renewed vigor everyday.

So, are you a successful leader yet? Share with us in the comments section below on certain steps you follow as the leader of an organisation.

Also read: 5 effective ways to lead your team

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