Becoming a Leader

A Description of Leadership Skills, Qualities, and Traits

What is a Leader?

You may look at someone such as a supervisor, manager, or employer to be a leader. But what does that really mean?  The generic definition is “a person or thing that guides or directs a group, organization or country.” But, there is a lot more to leadership than just being in charge of people. Beyond telling people what to do, a leader’s role could involve:

•  Inspiring passion and motivation in those around them
•  Ensuring their team has the support and tools they need to achieve their goals.
•  Doing the right thing under tough circumstances

Throughout this article, we will discuss what makes a leader and what leadership is. We will also look at different styles of leadership and how they can help or harm employees within a workplace. 

There is No “I” in Team

It is important to note that while leaders stand out from those they lead, they do not stand above them. Being a leader is a responsibility and not a right. 

Workplace hierarchy is a natural phenomenon anytime there are employers and employees. Being placed in a position where you are able to tell others what to do does not make you a leader; it makes you a boss. Bosses are above their team; however, leaders are a part of the team. 

That being said, the role that leaders are required to play in a team is very intricate and can only be filled by a certain type of person. Team leaders are essential in executing the goals the team might have. Leaders are the ones who can offer guidance to all members of the team when it comes to fulfilling the roles that they play. Leaders also provide clarity, purpose, and motivation. They are responsible for directing the team’s resources for improved efficiency and the achievement of their common goals. 

What is Leadership?

The term “leadership” has many different definitions that can be misunderstood or translated into something that it’s not. Defining what leadership isn’t may actually be an easier task. Leadership is not about seniority or position in the company hierarchy. 

But the most basic and understandable definition is this: leadership is the social influencethat a person has on a group. The highlighted term, “social influence,” means that leaders only have influence because of the people that follow them.

Clarifying where a leader’s influence comes from is very important when it comes to defining what leadership is. Having power or authority does give you influence but does not automatically make you a leader. Social influence also says a lot about what makes a leader, which is their followers. A leader without a team is only a person.

Answering The Call

Now that we have determined what a leader is and what leadership means, we are going to discuss the first steps to becoming a leader. There are five steps you can take to improve your leadership skills. 

#1 – Take Care of Yourself

Leaders are expected and required to make difficult decisions, which can create an enormous amount of stress. Self-care will help with stress by allowing you to think more clearly and see things from a realistic viewpoint. 

Being an effective leader also means that you are a role model for those who follow you. By taking care of yourself, you are setting a good example for your team members who will then follow in your footsteps and take care of themselves as well. 

Some guidelines to follow when it comes to taking care of your safety and health are:

• Getting enough sleep
• Taking care of your mental health
• Eating right
• Surrounding yourself with good people 

Taking care of yourself, though, does not only mean keeping yourself healthy and strong. It also means that you need to be self-aware. Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. What qualities do you lack and what do you have an abundance of? Knowing this can help you to be both a better role model and keep you from exerting yourself when it comes to stressful situations and reaching quotas. 

#2 – Support Your Team

Leaders know that they are only as good as their team. So, a huge emphasis needs to be put on supporting your team to help them grow stronger. It also helps to build a strong relationship with your employees. Ultimately a leader’s support empowers their team to develop their professional skills and work well in any type of environment. The best way to support your employees is to be:

• Empathetic
• Approachable
• Respectful

#3 – Be Willing to Make Difficult Decisions and Share

Business is messy and uncertain. Being a leader is never easy, but it’s especially difficult when you have to guide your company through hard times. You will have to make decisions that could make or break your team’s goals. 

It is important during those difficult times that you are honest and open with your employees about the situation. Doing this builds trust between you and your team members. 

#4 – Be Willing to Ask For Help

Leaders are viewed as highly capable individuals, but it is okay to break that stereotype. Requesting help from others is just another step toward becoming a better leader. When you support and respect your team, then it is highly likely that they will support you as well. Never hesitate to bounce ideas off of them or ask them for help. Being a leader can be a heavy burden. If you are a good leader, your team will be more than willing to help lighten the load. 

#5 – Conflict

Leaders need to understand that conflict and disagreement can be as productive as positive energy and a healthy workplace. For disagreement to be productive though, you have to be able to manage through conflict. It can be used as an opportunity for discovery by hearing different points of view from your team as well as why an idea would or wouldn’t work.

What is a Personal Leadership Statement?

A leadership statement is a vision statement that helps you to define your role as a leader. It also helps you clarify your beliefs, values, purpose, and how you want to lead others. 

Why is it Important?

Creating and utilizing a leadership vision statement creates accountability for any goals you set. Keeping these goals in mind will create a professional, enjoyable, and healthy work environment. Doing so will improve your team’s performance and morale.

A personal leadership statement is also important because it acts as a motivational tool. It will give your employees confidence and help you build better relationships with your team members. 

A Leader’s Best Traits

Many leaders have certain traits that make them stand out from other people. They were either born with these traits, developed them, or honed them over time.  These traits are why they were able to become a leader in the first place. But these characteristics are dependent on other factors. 

There are many different types of leadership styles that extend from the many different leadership traits. Depending on the leadership style, these desired traits may vary. Throughout the next couple of sections, we will go over the five most common types of leadership styles and their qualifying traits, along with the advantages and disadvantages of these styles. 

#1 – Authoritarian Leadership

Authoritative leaders are effective because of their ability to inspire, motivate, and influence their teams. An authoritarian leadership style allows a leader to impose expectations and clear guidelines, as well as define outcomes for their team. Some advantages of this style would be:

• Less time will be spent making crucial decisions
• There will be fewer mistakes made in the development of goals and plans
• The results will be more efficient and consistent

Despite all these great outcomes, this leadership style is often seen as a management system that can come off as controlling. It will fail in a team if it is not used carefully. Some outcomes of this include:

• Employee rebellion
• Decreased employee creativity and innovation
• Reduced group input

When used correctly, this leadership style can be very helpful. It can make the environment they work in thrive. Some traits that many authoritative leaders have are:

• A motivated mindset
• The ability to communicate effectively
• The ability to understand strategies
• The ability to make decisions quickly
• The ability to work under pressure

#2 – Participative Leadership

Leaders that actively use participative leadership styles constantly include their other team members in the decision-making process. This has many advantages when it comes to the team’s morale and attitude. A few examples of those advantages are:

• Increased employee motivation and job satisfaction
• A stronger team dynamic
• Higher levels of productivity

As wonderful as an inclusive work environment can be, many disadvantages could follow such a leadership style. Some examples of these disadvantages would be:  

• The decision-making process is time-consuming
• Communication errors will be a common mistake
• Decisions with less effectiveness towards the teams goals will have to be made

Many different traits can be found in leaders who use this participative style. These traits also influence employee morale and productivity outcomes. Participative leaders normally have traits such as:

• Open-mindedness
• The ability to be encouraging
• A collaborative mindset

#3 – Delegative Leadership

A delegative leader focuses on delegating initiative to other team members. If the team members are competent, can take responsibility, and prefer working individually, then this leadership style can thrive in any workplace. This places all of the decision-making in the hands of the team members and allows the leader to take a step back. However, the leader should remain open to providing feedback. Some advantages of this leadership style include: 

• Allowing members to use their competence, experience, and skill
• Being able to value innovation and creativity
• Creating a positive and healthy work environment 

If a team does not have employees that are experienced and competent, a delegative leadership style will fail many times over. Unlike other leadership styles, the probability of success is solely based on the other team members instead of on the leader themselves. A delegative leadership style also makes adapting to change very difficult for the other members of the team. 

Because a delegative leadership style is so unique compared to other styles, these types of leaders also have very unique characteristics. Some of these traits would include:

• A tendency to put their employees first
• A preference to give up control to their employees
• A laid-back personality
• A high level of empathy

#4 – Transactional Leadership

The transactional leadership style utilizes transactions, such as rewards, to get the job done. Leaders that utilize this style set clear goals for their team. Their team, in turn, knows that they will be rewarded if they can meet that goal. This style is more give-and-take than any other leadership style. Some pros to this style are listed below:

• Increased team member motivation and productivity
• Minimized confusion when it comes to communication
• Increased sense of autonomy for team members as they choose their reward

This leadership style doesn’t work well in most workplace environments. It is curated for only certain work settings based on the job, the employees, and the employer. When it is implemented or used, the work environment can get intense due to the competitive mindset that it encourages. An environment like this can hold back many team members because it creates more followers than leaders in the team. 

Transactional leaders have many common qualities that would otherwise inhibit other types of leadership styles. These qualitative traits could include:

• Strict rule follower
• Adherence to routine
• Focus on efficiency
• Determination

#5 – Transformational Leadership

In a transformational leadership style, the leader inspires their team with a vision and then encourages and empowers them to achieve it. The leader also serves as a role model for this vision, which encourages their employees further. The advantages of this style can be:

• Lower employee turnover in the workplace
• Value on the corporate vision 
• High employee morale

If not used carefully though, a transformational leadership style can come off as deceiving and manipulative. Some other cons that may be affiliated with this leadership style include:

• Employees need for consistent motivation and feedback
• Tasks can’t be approved without employees agreeing
• This style can sometimes lead to deviation from protocol and regulations

A transformational leader is a leader that is required to have many traits that fall into the category of inspiration. A few examples of these traits are:

• A talent for broadening minds
• The ability to actively listen
• Being able to trust their team members
• Responsible
• The ability to inspire participation 

There Are No Carbon Copies

Everyone needs to remember that all leaders are different. Each person is different, and because of this, each leader leads differently. The way you lead is dependent upon your team members, your place of work, the decisions you have to make, and the way you want to empower and motivate your employees. You shouldn’t base how you lead on how someone else leads because what works for one leader doesn’t work for all. 

Knowing All The Answers

Being a leader is not about having all the answers, but about asking the right questions. The company as a whole does better when leaders allow their employees the opportunity to answer. When a leader insists on knowing all the answers, they are seriously hurting their team’s ability to grow when it comes to creativity and knowledge. Leaders that wait for their employees to come to them for answers and depend solely on their decision-making are also inhibiting productivity and damaging their workplace morale. 

Don’t be that kind of leader. Instead, allow the people you lead to grow and learn with you. This helps you to build stronger relationships and trust within the company. It also provides everyone with opportunities to grow and improve their skills and knowledge.

How Leaders are Seen vs. Expectations

Two things that seem to have a very thin line separating them when it comes to leadership are what team members see in a leader versus what they expect from a leader. Throughout the next couple of sections, we will discuss the differences.

How They are Viewed

Leaders are viewed as people who create an inspiring vision of the future. They nourish and invoke the best qualities in the people who follow them and create opportunities to bring great ideas together. They are looked up to by all who are inspired by them. Good leaders are seen as honest, fair, as well as highly capable. 

Expectations

Leaders are expected to be able to help their team in many different ways. Whether it be achieving their goals, working towards the vision, or inspiring others. A good leader is expected to bring their team to success in all they work for. Leaders are not expected to know everything though. They are not expected to be perfect or eliminate their flaws. 

Where Does Safety Come in?

What does leadership have to do with safety in the workplace? Absolutely everything. Leaders are necessary in establishing the standards and values in an organization. A leader is critical when it comes to defining safety goals, developing safety procedures, and ensuring compliance when it comes to the company’s safety programs. If you are in need of an online safety training provider check out Safety Provisions, Inc.’s courses.

It is a leader’s task to create the company’s safety culture by projecting its goals and visions and outlining safety expectations. A good leader truthfully believes that with enough effort, all work-related incidents can be prevented. Leaders have a profound influence over the safety culture found in their place of work and they can take many steps towards creating safe working habits and mitigating hazards for their employees.

One of the most important roles as a leader is to inspire and set an example for the people you lead. When safety is the company’s goal, a leader can motivate their employees to minimize health and safety risks in the workplace. Employees who are inspired by their employers are more likely to report hazards and health risks than employees who are simply paid to complete the job. 

Leaders are role models and leading by example is a huge part of the development and implementation of a safety culture within your workplace. It is important to set examples for safety habits such as avoiding hazards, learning how to eliminate hazards, and looking out for the safety of yourself and others. By doing so you are actively teaching your employees what they should or shouldn’t do when it comes to workplace hazards. 

As we stated earlier, leaders are a part of their team. Leaders can help to develop and effect the safety culture by collaborating with their employees. Effective leaders work well with employees, promote cooperation, and actively seek input from people on the issue at hand. Leaders should also encourage others to implement ideas to improve safety. 

Leaders have everything to do with the safety culture in a workplace. They have all kinds of influence that can be utilized towards the goal of safety. By inspiring, motivating, and collaborating with your employees, you are actively maximizing the safety efforts at work.