A Profile of a Dynamic Leader
Every business, be it small, medium or large all need one thing in common; a "clear mission, vision, and strategy to realize its objectives and enable success. It is the combination of these major 3 that will keep a business on track, and provide the necessary ingredients to succeed.
You can state your mission easily enough, visualize exactly where you want to go, but when it comes to strategy, assembling your team to reach specified objectives and long-term goals, well this can be another story altogether.
Excellent leadership and well managed supportive employees are critical components that ensure direction is focused, results are achieved, efficiency and high quality productivity obtained as your strategies are implemented and carried out.
To assist you as a leader, following are 15 key points you may wish to consider
INTELLECTUAL
Good leaders can see multiple relationships in events through a complete understanding of all information pertaining to their operational procedures and requirements, and the carrying out of work responsibilities.
They will view problems from different angles, recognize patterns, trends, or causes of events.
They will develop short and mid-term strategies to enable best performance for self and all employees with respect to assigned work responsibilities.
They have an ability to systematically break down problems or processes into component parts, identify key issues, and draw logical conclusions to enable best performance.
They will see implications and consequences of specific events, anticipate obstacles, develop proactive strategies and determine what is needed to reach business goals.
They will set a course of action and priorities, and provide sound recommendations to reach business goals through analyses of events and procedures.
CREATIVITY
They will respond to problems and situations with innovative solutions.
They will show openness to new information and approaches.
They will address different objectives and problems while questioning traditional assumptions in order to generate creative ideas, and possible new ways of doing business.
ACTION MANAGEMENT
Good Leaders are results oriented individuals who are known to make things happen and get things done.
They are focussed on reaching goals assigned by giving directions and setting courses of action, managing work, and allocating resources in an efficient manner.
They maintain an understanding of the requirements of the management framework for financial, human, and material resource.
They understand the accountability framework and behave in a prudent and responsible manner in carrying out their responsibilities.
They manage performance by monitoring implementation, making adjustments, and evaluating results.
Good Leaders are people who are committed to continuous learning for themselves, and their environment.
ORGANISATIONAL AWARENESS
Good Leaders understand the overall mission and various departmental responsibilities, and develop business lines to ensure their responsibilities fit into the overall success of combined departmental productivity.
They keep up to date with the implications of an evolving work contract between employees and the company.
TEAM WORK
Good Leaders are both team players, and team managers.
They understand corporate agendas and contribute to the larger picture by collaborating with other managers and colleagues towards solutions and better quality outputs.
They recognize the various contributions of other players; they seek the expertise of other players or teams to improve projects.
Good Leaders provide a supportive environment based on trust, respect, and commitment.
They are concerned with the development needs of team members, act as coaches and empower them. They are quickly aware of staff conflict and are efficient in solving differences, difficulties.
PARTNERING
As part of their concerns for efficiency and service, good leaders are constantly looking for partnering opportunities within and/or outside their organization. They recognize opportunities, research and prepare grounds for agreements.
VISIONING
Good Leaders support and promote the vision developed by senior executives. At their level, they develop a personal vision to achieve result based on their responsibility to the overall vision.
They promote commitment to the corporate vision, generate enthusiasm, and provide focus and ideas.
They also regularly solicit input from others to help formulate their direction and achievement towards their fulfilment of obligations.
INTERPERSONAL
Good Leadership will develop cooperative work relationships by building trust, commitment, loyalty and respect. They show warmth and empathy for others, and treat all fairly.
They will identify and manage difficult relationships.
They develop their staff by directly coaching supervisors and employees towards performance improvement and in helping those to align their organisational, professional, and personal goals.
COMMUNICATION
When communicating with employees, peers, supervisors and the public the leader’s ambition is to be clearly understood, and to get feedback from others to ensure they have been clearly understood.
They align their format, vocabulary where necessary to motivate their audience towards decision / action / commitment.
Depending on the type of message, will clearly communicate the message or idea orally, in writing, or in both.
Good Leaders will keep their lines of communication open with their employees, supervisors, and all key deciders.
STRESS RESISTANCE / STAMINA
Good Leaders remain effective in judgement and decision-making under stress.
Should they sense a decrease in energy in themselves or others, they are able to cope or to ask for assistance.
They recognize stressors, warning signs, and the impact these will have on self or others.
Good Leaders know how to balance their workload and the workloads of their employees.
ETHICS & VALUES
Good Leaders treat people fairly and with dignity.
They are willing to admit mistakes, even in the face of adverse consequences.
They honour their commitments, and ensure that the trust of others is not violated.
They uphold the personal, social, and ethical standards set by their company.
They protect fairness, avoid conflict of interest, and maintain political neutrality. Their principles guide them when dealing with ethical dilemmas in their environment, and when supporting or coaching personnel.
PERSONALITY
A Good Leader is constantly engaged in an ongoing self-assessment to evaluate the impact they will have on other members of their organisation, and the organization itself.
They set ambitious, yet attainable goals for themselves and others.
They pursue their objectives with determination and perseverance.
They accept feedback openly, not only for themselves, but actively seek it for the benefit of the whole organization.
SELF CONFIDENCE
A Good Leader will remain poised and confident in all kinds of stressful situations.
They maintain a realistic view of their strengths and limitations, and take ownership and responsibility for decisions even with the risk of failure, or criticism.
They handle criticism in a constructive manner without blaming others, and can promote an idea or position even when unpopular.
As leaders they expect success. Their sense of direction and self-assurance help them to maintain productive working conditions.
SERVICE
Good Leadership will govern their responsibilities effectively to deliver services that balance company policy, objective, and client needs.
Processors are managed in a client-sensitive manner by seeking constant feedback, acting on client feedback, and taking personal responsibility for quality service.
A Good Leader will coach all personnel on client service approaches.
GOVERNANCE
Good Leaders are aware of any legislative law that applies to their industry, and employees. They oversee the daily operations of their company keeping all within the boundaries of any constraint set in place for the welfare of all.
All material presented in this series of business articles is sourced from my personal website; www.teamperformance.co.nz / Gary Wilson Leadership
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Kind regards, Gary Wilson