Being a leader implies that a process of social influence is set in motion, where a person can enlist the aid and support of others (followers) in order to accomplish a common task. We have different types of leaders in every sphere of life, some are appointed or chosen to be in the leadership position and some just find themselves leading because they have the ability to influence others. However, it’s important to realize that just because you are in a position to lead doesn’t mean people actually want to follow you, and just because you are not in a position to lead (yet), doesn’t mean you cannot influence others positively.
Leadership is not just in the nomenclature of the term, but in the action. A leader is someone who others WANT to follow. And in order for people to want to follow you, you will need to earn their trust and respect by the way you ACT.
So, if you are currently in a position of leadership or want to be a leader, here are some ways you can look and act like a leader:
BE CONFIDENT
As a leader, if you come off as insecure or indecisive, your followers will lose faith in your ability to lead. You must be able to trust your decision making ability and this must be evident in the way you display confidence at all times – good or bad. However, be sure not to overdo it. You have to be cautious about not coming off as overly-confident or arrogant to your followers. It is also wisdom to seek the counsel of your followers when needed as no one is an island of knowledge.
COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY
A leader needs to effectively communicate a lot of things at all times; tasks, responsibilities, vision, mission etc. When I say communicate effectively, I am not talking about your grammar alone. It is great to be well spoken, but much more than that you will need to clearly articulate details so that your followers aren’t led astray or confused about what you want done. You will be much more efficient and effective if you do not have to waste time re-explaining things or fixing issues caused by your own miscommunication.
DO AS YOU PREACH
As a leader, especially if you are currently in a leadership position, it’s important to say what you mean and mean what you say without any form of verbosity.
By following this creed, you’re setting an example for your team and letting them know that no one is above the generally accepted values. When you go against this, either by your actions or words, you’re showing everyone that the generally accepted values do not apply to you. Consequently, you will lose the respect of your followers as they will soon start seeing you as a hypocrite.
BE EMPATHETIC
When you’re empathetic, it allows you to understand how your followers are feeling or how they are reacting to certain decisions you make by the virtue of your position. Always put yourself in the shoes of your followers. You do not want to be seen as a leader who doesn’t care about his followers.
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
If you lead a team or an organization, it is your responsibility to fix whatever goes wrong and not blame others. Yes, you can consult with others to solve or fix the problem, but never shy away from taking the bull by the horn. If you only take responsibility and praises for initiatives that you or any of your followers or team members championed successfully, but do not take responsibility for your failures, you are not acting like a leader. As a leader, you are expected to take responsibility for your shortcomings and for those of your team members or followers as well.
NEVER STOP LEARNING
The best leaders never stop learning. Be receptive to everyone’s ideas, even the people you don’t like. Leaders are not necessarily the smartest, wisest, or most knowledgeable people in the room. Their secret is: asking the right questions and constantly learning new things. Keep yourself rightly informed every day and improve on whatever knowledge you presently possess as your followers will be looking to you for guidance and you do not want to let them down.
About the Writer: Chris Bamidele is a passionate and unapologetic Nigerian, who believes in God and humanity. He is a writer, blogger, and an aspiring Television Director; and an optimist to the core. He blogs at www.chrisbamidele.wordpress.com and tweets @Chrisbamidele
