Quality of a Successful Leader
Leadership is an intangible quality and its effectiveness can best be judged by the behavior and attitudes of followers. Even though, personal backgrounds and personalities differ widely, some of the factors such as education and socio-economic status are poor indicators of judgments of successful leaders. However, some behavioral characteristics may be common to most of the successful and effective leaders. Some of these characteristics are:
1) Ability to inspire others: This ability may be due to an internal "charisma" that is an inborn trait and may not be a learnable factor.
2) Problem solving skills: An effective leader has developed the patience and ability to look at the problem from various angles and girt down to the cause of the problem and he tries to solve the problem from its roots rather than the symptoms of the problem.
3) Emotional maturity: Emotional stability and maturity is a major ingredient for effective leadership. It pertains to good adjustment to life, calm, cool land calculated reaction to undesirable situations and obstacles and normal acceptance of success as well as failure.
4) Ability to understand human behavior: A leader must understand the needs, desires and behavior of his subordinates and show respect for such desires. He is emotionally supportive and is careful enough to avoid ego threatening behavior. He must give credit to subordinates when their efforts are successful.
5) Willingness to take risks: Routine work no matter how well-done never makes a leader. Successful leaders always charter the unknown. They must accept and seek new challenges. However, the risks must be calculated ones and outcomes of actions be reasonably predicted. Should these risks result in failure, a leader must take full blame and responsibility and not shift blame on others, even though they may be operative factors. He must be willing to tolerate frustration and defeat and leans from these failures.
6) Dedication to organizational goals: A leader must demonstrate his dedication and commitment to the organization's mission, goals and objectives by hard work and self-sacrifice. He must make sure that his followers fully understand the organizational objectives and are equally dedicated and willing to work for these objectives.
7) Intelligence: A successful leader must have above average knowledge and intelligence. Mental ability to think precisely, analyzes accurately, interprets clearly and concisely are necessary to consider their problems in the right perspective.
8) Sound physique: sound physique and mental health is essential to bear the burden of the leadership . sound physique include physical stamina , nervous energy mental vigor and importance leadership quality
9) Foresight and vision : he should have the capacity to look forward and anticipated the events he should have a high degree of imitations more courage and determination
10) Responsibility : a leader should be responsible person and must be willing to assume the responsibility for the consequences.