At a time when decisions are being taken at unit and department levels and when leaderless social movements seem all the rage, many may question the need for leaders. The truth however is that there is a leader in every crowd who takes the team forward in a certain direction. Leaders are present in all fields, but it is important to have the right form of leadership in the right field as style and content of leadership differs from field to field.
People are not born leaders. Circumstances, learnings and a strong desire to lead make people leaders. The best example of this is Mr Ratan Tata, CEO of the Tata Group. When he started as the Head of Tata, he was known to be an extremely shy and private person. With time though, the qualities of a leader bloomed within him and the difference between Ratan Tata, the Executive and Ratan Tata, the Leader were quiet apparent. He was not born to be the CEO of the Tata Group, nor did he become a leader overnight, he simply trained himself to be one.
Leadership Qualities
The first and foremost quality of a leader is his ability to form and hold a team. The ability to hold a team together and direct them towards a goal, even when the formulation of the team is beyond the control of the leader, is the true mark of a great leader. The ability to hold a team together does not come from the authority given to the leader by the company but by the trust that the group he leads places in him. Unless they are able to buy into him based on his emotional intelligence and his ability to handle different people differently, the leader will not be able to hold the team together or direct their focus on the wellbeing of the company.
The ability to keep the focus of the team on the goal is also the quality of a good leader. It is essential that the goal be made known to every member of the team in a language that he/she understands. For instance, top management understands the language of money while lower management talks in terms of number of units to be produced.
It is important that the leader ensures the safety of his team by keeping external and internal threats in check. A leader must also ensure that teams are deployed in proportion to the threats being faced as this keeps other areas of the business from weakening or being left unattended.
Becoming a good leader
The success of a leader is determined by the success of his team. One of the first steps to becoming a good leader is ensuring you have a good team. Having team members who are on the same wavelength and frequency as the leader ensures harmony and greater cooperation within the team.
The second step to becoming a good leader is setting clearly defined, time-bound goals that are made known to all the members of the team
Delegation forms the third step to becoming a good leader. Delegation is essential since it not only frees the leader from day to day operations, but also makes his time available for other, more important duties. Delegation also helps the leader keep checks and balances in place, review overall operations and help in identifying and training potential leaders.
Sharing the spoils on reaching the goal is the last step. Even the smallest of victories must be celebrated as these give you a chance to reward your team and create a positive work atmosphere which will push the team members work harder. It is important to remember however, that sharing the spoils goes beyond just monetary rewards. It is sharing the recognition and appreciation, and acknowledging that each member has contributed immensely in reaching the goal.
Leadership Styles
Leaders display different styles of leadership depending on the field and the team they are dealing with.
A leader who leads from the front is called a Captain. This style of leadership is seen mostly in small scale industries or in the field of sports, where the leader is expected to demonstrate his ability to solve a problem or overcome a situation. A Captain needs to display strong leadership and have a reliable, strong and well-knit team. He must also know the nuances of all the roles that his team members play and must be able to demonstrate them as well.
A Coach is a leader who has a thorough understanding of not just the processes, but the people as well. This type of leadership works very well in IT, R&D and Finance where training, re-training and development of skills of employees is critical.
The leader of leaders is known as the Guru. This style of leadership is apt for a large team with numerous goals. A Guru not only sets the tenets, but leads by example and follows them religiously.
A Cheerleader is the kind of leader found in most MNCs. He appreciates and celebrates all the victories of the team and pushes and motivates the team through their losses.
Dictators come into play when the company is faced with a dire situation which cannot be made known to the employees to ensure the wellbeing of the company. Dictators give orders which are to be followed completely and without opposition.
Although there are many leadership styles, it is not advisable to stick to just one. Instead, the leader must adopt different styles keeping in mind the field, the team and, most important of all, the situation.
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