One leadership philosophy that is often discussed is servant leadership, which emphasizes putting the needs of others first and focusing on helping team members grow and develop. Servant leaders strive to create a collaborative and supportive work environment and believe that their role is to serve and empower their team members. Another leadership philosophy is transformational leadership, which involves inspiring and motivating team members to reach their full potential and achieve shared goals (Häyry, 2022). Transformational leaders are visionary and focus on creating long-term change and growth within their organizations.
Great leaders also tend to exhibit a range of personal qualities that contribute to their success. These qualities include:
- Strategic thinking: Great leaders must think long-term and have a clear vision for their organization. They are able to develop and execute strategies that align with their goals.
- Good communication skills: Great leaders need to clearly and effectively communicate their vision and expectations to their team members (Serrat, 2021). They are supposed to listen to and understand the perspectives of others and are open to feedback.
- Decision-making ability: Great leaders are able to make difficult decisions and are comfortable taking calculated risks. They weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of different options and choose the best course of action.
- Emotional intelligence: Great leaders are self-aware and effectively manage their own emotions and those of their team members. They create a positive and supportive work environment.
- Adaptability: Great leaders are able to adapt to change and are open to new ideas and approaches. They can pivot and adjust their strategies as needed in response to changing circumstances.
- Ethics and integrity: Great leaders are honest, transparent, and have strong moral principles. They lead by example and set high ethical standards for themselves and their team.
Great leaders also tend to be strong role models and mentors who inspire and guide their team members to achieve their full potential. They create a positive and supportive work environment that fosters growth and development (Häyry, 2022). Great leaders also recognize and appreciate the contributions of their team members and delegate responsibilities effectively and empower others to take on leadership roles (Rao, 2021). In addition to these internal qualities, great leaders also have a strong external focus and are able to build and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders such as customers, partners, and other organizations (Duggan et al., 2015). They effectively communicate the vision and mission of their organization and inspire others to support and align with their goals. Great leaders also understand the importance of continuous learning and growth (Serrat, 2021). They are open to feedback and are willing to reflect on their own strengths and weaknesses in order to improve their leadership skills (Dudley, 2018). They also recognize the value of diversity and inclusivity and are able to build diverse and inclusive teams that bring a range of perspectives and experiences.
Effective leadership involves a combination of personal qualities, skills, and approaches. While there is no one-size-fits-all formula for outstanding leadership, the best leaders easily adapt and find a leadership style that works for them and their team (Zuckerman & O’Shea, 2020). They inspire and motivate others to achieve shared goals and create positive, lasting change within their organizations and beyond. While these characteristics are not exhaustive, they represent some of the critical qualities that great leaders tend to possess. The main qualities that need to be improved in order to become a more successful leader are socialization skills and empathy. Both of these qualities influence interaction with other people because a leader can only be productive with people following them. Therefore, it is necessary to have close contact with his underlings and help them even in non-working situations, such as, for example, the possibility of giving an extra day off for personal needs. This will help to bring the team together and make their work more enjoyable. It is important to remember that every leader is unique and may have their own personal approach to leadership, but these characteristics are often shared among great leaders.
References
Dudley, D. (2018). This is day one. Hachette Books.
Duggan, K., Aisaka, K., Tabak, R. G., Smith, C., Erwin, P., & Brownson, R. C. (2015). Implementing administrative evidence based practices: lessons from the field in six local health departments across the United States. BMC Health Services Research, 15(1). Web.
Häyry, M. (2022). Scarcity, justice, and health crisis leadership. Philosophies, 7(3), 48. Web.
Rao, M. S. (2021). Peter Drucker’s principles, philosophies, and practices. Journal of Values-Based Leadership, 14(2). Web.
Serrat, O. (2021). Leading solutions : essays in business psychology. Springer.
Zuckerman, S. J., & O’Shea, C. (2020). Principals’ schema: Leadership philosophies and instructional leadership. Journal of School Leadership, 105268462096606. Web.