What Makes A Leader REALLY GREAT
Great leaders are not the ones with the most experience or best ideas, but the ones who can sense a necessity, showing courage and influence to find solutions and to inspire people in creating an impactful revolution.
Leadership- a term we hear every day. But have you ever wondered what differentiates a great leader from others? Let’s start with the basic question: Who is a leader? Whether you are an executive, a manager, a parent, or someone who steps up in face of a challenge, there lies a leader in you. And, in every role, leaders do the same thing. They have the courage to take on responsibilities, influencing and motivating people around them to take risks, proactively acting on challenges and opportunities while creating a safe environment to learn and make progress.
However, the main question is, if every leader does the same thing to a certain degree, then how does one turn into a great one while the others struggle? Definitely, the inbuilt characteristics. Let’s understand the qualities that make a leader really great.
Understanding the Modern Concept of Great Leadership
You might know someone who is in the best formal leadership position yet is a poor leader who isn’t appreciated by his team and someone exercising great leadership with no formal authority. In other terms, leadership is not about the formal positions but the characteristics you radiate.
Great leaders are those who believe leadership is something they do and not something they are!
Traditionally, leadership is correlated to the management of teams and maximization of revenues. But, with time, the role has evolved. Leaders today focus on human first and long-term aspects such as vision, culture, agility frameworks, human-centric methods, and quality outcomes to meet the growing demand of society for modern approaches.
Six Core Competencies of Great Leadership
Most people may believe that leadership is given by birth, but science has proven that leadership is an acquired set of competencies and can be built by developing related characteristics. Brendon Burchard, 3-time New York Times bestselling author and founder of the High-Performance Institute, brought out the framework of the six E’s. The six E’s stand for Envision, Enlistment, Embody, Empowerment, Evaluation, and Encouragement as the core competencies of a great leader. Wondering how? Let’s explore the role of each one of the six E’s and understand what research can say about it.
Envision: The Art of Narrating the Future
One of the obvious qualities of great leaders is vision. If you stand as a visionary leader, there is no challenge that can ever stop you from achieving the set goals. Imagine you are appointed as a leader of a project; how will you start from scratch? Obviously, by picturing the past, present, and future together and taking steps that promise to drive impact.
As visionaries, they know the narration of the future. Not only do they dream of an iconic future, but they aspire to craft strategies that turn their dreams into reality. Around 90% of executives believe that, for strategic success, aligning a constructive vision is essential. Further vision is not a one-time implementation but a continuous approach of leadership. How do you react if, under some circumstances, your vision fails? As a leader, you can’t let it go or just be disappointed by yourself. Rather, you need to consistently revisit and refine your vision to upcoming needs and aspirations.
Enlistment: The Art of Involving Everyone
Leadership is a social journey; it is not about building a strong or charismatic individual. It’s about taking collective responsibility for achieving required outcomes—and that’s when you start enlisting everyone.
Imagine yourself collaborating with a leader who doesn’t seek your ideas or suggestions while sharing his vision. Will you ever love to grow in such an environment? Or would you feel a sense of belongingness?
Around 75% of employees feel that dealing with their manager is the most stressful and toxic part of their workday. It happens when a leader fails to understand the power of enlisting others. A great leader knows how to include and involve everyone around him. Great leadership begins when you start seeking the perspectives, gathering ideas from the teams and practicing partnership rather than presenting your ownership.
Embodiment: The Art of Building Credibility
Embodiment is the heart of great leadership. Studies suggest that a leader who embodies integrity and credibility tends to outperform others. We all know a manager who promises a lot and delivers little by the end of the day. And none of us feel great with him anyway.
Imagine yourself: can you trust and follow the message if you don’t trust the messenger?
A big no, isn’t it? Thus, it takes integrity and credibility to build impactful leadership. And trust comes with action. In other words, it is neither the words nor the positions but the actions that make a great leader. As a leader, you should set an example of commitment and resilience. The team automatically blends with the leader who inspires them to follow suit.
Empowerment: The Art of Creating Autonomy
One of the great leadership qualities is empowering others. Not only do great leaders empower themselves to deliver the set of outcomes, but they also bring a sense of autonomy to the team. Imagine raising a concern or issue to a team leader, and instead of more pressure for results you get access to the training and mentorship you need to drive the results. Will this bring you a sense of empowerment to take accountability for your actions?
Great leaders empower the team members and nurture a culture of trust and accountability. Moreover, it’s not a one-time commitment but ongoing support to ensure their team members that they are there for them in every dynamic environment. Empowerment allows everyone in the team to grow and take ownership of their roles and responsibilities.
Evaluation: The Art of Measuring the Progress
Great leaders know it’s not only about planning and execution but also about measuring and tracking the process because progress defines performance and opens the door to improvement.
Imagine yourself traveling to a far location without a map nor a GPS, losing precious time going in directions that do not get you close to your target.
The same happens in every sphere of life if we fail to define objectives and track progress towards them. A great leader must possess the ability to set inspiring goals, evaluate the teams’ progress, and make course corrections in a timely manner. Measuring performance against predefined goals and visions allows you to plan more strategically for the upcoming milestones. Remember, evaluation is not only about assessing outcomes but also fostering the way for constructive feedback during the journey.
Encouragement: The Art of Inspiring Others
Impactful leadership inspires and encourages everyone in the surroundings. In other words, great leaders have a positive mindset that serves resilience in the face of adversity. Would you consider a leader who is hands-on and encourages you to take risks and responsibilities or one who keeps asking for more performance and doesn’t seem to remove the blockers along the way?
Obviously, the first one. Leadership is not all about celebrating the victorious moments but also encouraging the team to try new ideas, take risks, and keep it together if you fail. In fact, encouragement is most needed in times of uncertainty, doubt, and failure. Great leaders know the art of keeping optimism and enthusiasm alive in their teams. They value and support every individual, creating resilience that creates a sense of purpose and possibility.
How To Be A Great Leader?
Undoubtedly, great leaders play a critical role in shaping organizations, society, and, in some cases, the world. But the question is, how to be a great leader. You can build the competencies of a great leader by proactively taking on the responsibility to help others and by seeking environments that foster your confidence, communication, community, and courage. Meier Healthcare’s Business Health & Performance Program is there to guide you towards the proven methods that make a leader really great. We understand the demands and trends of the modern workplace and are equipped to guide you accordingly. Remember, there’s a leader within every individual, and with the right guidance, you can unlock that identity and improve your skills.
A Way Forward
Great leadership starts when you start understanding that leadership isn’t just about individual development but a collaborative journey towards creating a better future, inspiring individuals towards a common goal and desired outcomes. Every leader should know how to develop the competencies required to enable growth and development. For more information about leadership excellence, connect with us.
