effective leadership quality

Leadership theories attempt to define what constitutes good leadership; however, technological advancements, globalization, different business culture, and clientele have affected the way business is run internationally. As more enterprises seek to get a global presence, it becomes necessary for a leader to understand the dynamics that result from managing people on an international scale and achieving the intended if not better results. The ability to lead a team in the global world is what separates a successful business from the rest. Effective leadership is reflected in the ability to manage a team, drive a company’s vision forward, remain optimistic and model the right behavior (Folkman, 2010). It is therefore imperative that the leader understands the business that they are in and the different dynamics that they may face. For instance, an international corporation may be shocked by the aspect of a new culture which also affects how business is done.

Further, a leader ought to be visionary. One cannot hence lead a team if they do not understand what the final goal is and how they seek to get there. It is essential that the leader stay motivated and focused despite the challenges that may arise in the way. A leader must hence realize that he has to adapt to the changing world and manage the same people to get optimum results (Heifetz & Linsky, 2011). Good leaders understand that globalization can be a good concept for business when approached with an open mind and with the ability to navigate the various changes that occur in its course. This research paper elaborates the qualities of excellent leadership skills in the current world and the factors that the leaders have to consider to remain adept amidst the high competition being faced today.

Traits of Good Leadership

Empathy

Empathy is the ability to be aware of one’s emotions and those of others. According to (Badea & Panӑ, 2010), excellent leaders are empathetic to other people, and they understand their fears, feelings, and objectives towards specific issues. It does take a lot of energy and effort to be empathetic to another person, and great leaders understand the importance of investing in their employees (LaBier, 2014). Listening to others also tends to create good people skills which hence give the manager the ability to manage people from diverse backgrounds (Badea & Panӑ, 2010). For instance, understanding the perspective of another employee requires that one continually listens to them to appreciate their different viewpoints in life. Leaders should hence not sit on a high table and rule with an iron fist, but they should instead be willing to collaborate with others and create a partnership (LaBier, 2014). Empathy does not mean that a leader has to always agree with other’s point of view, but instead, he is willing to accommodate their differences without imposing his ideas on them (Badea & Panӑ, 2010). Employees desire empathy because it makes them comfortable and assured that their leader understands them best and is hence willing to cultivate their strong points without dwelling so much on their weaknesses (Gentry, Deal, Stawiski & Ruderman, 2012).

Leadership is inherently about other people, and hence one should not make it a one-sided show. Although dictatorship may bring the right results, it often leads to discontent from the employees who may, therefore, develop a negative attitude (Folkman, 2010). Success in the global world demands that the employees are always objective and passionate about their work. Showing concern for their needs and wants is hence likely to result in this than higher pay. The benefit that results from empathy is that it results to more bonds with the workplace (Folkman, 2010). Partnership enables the employees to integrate and work towards a common goal of the company. The employees hence understand how each other feel and how they can work on improving each other’s strengths (Badea & Panӑ, 2010). Strong teams are unbreakable, and they would always be willing to put extra effort since they understand that their efforts are always appreciated. Showing concern for others also gives insight into a visionary leader (Gentry, Weber & Sadri, 2007). It is tempting to imagine that one knows everything and his concepts must be forced down people’s thoughts and attitudes. However, keeping one’s ideas to oneself and seeking to learn from the new people enables one to learn new things that they wouldn’t otherwise learn if they relied on their knowledge (Badea & Panӑ, 2010). Focusing on another person also fosters patience in the leader which is important in the global world (Gentry, et al., 2007). As a business navigates to new territories, they are compounded with new challenges and cultures, and they must hence be willing to learn and adapt to remain still competitive. The goal, in this case, is not to react to a situation but maturely respond to get the right conclusion.

Sensitive to Cultural Diversity

As the world changes, new business concepts emerge which exposes leaders to modern culture. A manager that effortlessly adjusts to a new developing culture is likely to succeed and even learn new ideas that would benefit the business (Folkman, 2010). Even as companies go global to deal with the high rate of competition and take advantage of opportunities, great challenges result from the different cultural climate. Culture dictates how people dress, sleep, eat, relate with one another, communicate and even transact business. Culture also reveals how countries govern their activities and what partnership entails in such countries (Low, 2009). For instance, a manager may be used to eating freshly fried food in their countries. Such a leader must, however, be open to eating raw food at different times of the day for instance if they visited an Asian country. Additionally, people will always associate leadership with authority. As one ascends into a leadership position, it is vital to consider how they present themselves to the general public; a leader should reflect poise and confidence in his dress code (Low, 2009). It is critical to ensure that one’s dress code is considered appropriate to different nationalities because that inherently will influence how they view the leader.

Venturing into new countries also means that one may have to encounter language barriers. Learning the new language is preferable because it created more touch and connection with the customers. If a leader cannot converse in the local language, then it is worth communicating well in one’s language so that the interpreters may not miss the message that is being passed. Leaders should also pay attention to the signs and signals that other people give each other (Heifetz & Linsky, 2011). For instance, in salutation, some states require that one hugs them, kiss them on the cheek or a firm handshake. In some countries, using one’s left hands in salutation is considered rude. It is hence vital to pay attention to the little things because they ultimately influence the public view the business. One must always recognize and be willing to admit that their culture and ideas are not superior to others thus having the humility to learn new things (Folkman, 2010). Eventually, one should match their habits to suit that of the local people to avoid conflicts and enhance smooth interaction with the people.

Good Communication Skills

Most successful business can navigate the murky waters of trade due to their excellent communication skills. Being a good communicator enables one to understand other people’s wants and desires and to respond to them appropriately (Heifetz & Linsky, 2011). A good leader must also be able to efficiently communicate with all age groups without living anyone out (Folkman, 2010). For instance, a service providing company must understand that their clientele comprises of different generation and age groups. For example, the way a manager may deal with the generation Y is different from how one relates to generation X or the extremely young people. The Millennial may love the company’s presence in the social media and constant feedback on their queries. The baby boomers however value loyalty and the leader must always be willing to cultivate that to achieve high sales consistently. It is tempting to generalize all the customers because it is less involving and time-consuming. However, separating and responding to the needs of every clientele is paramount to any business success.

A great leader must also learn how to address his concerns and disappointments to his team without being irrational and rude (LaBier, 2014). Employees would respond well to an objective leader, one that seeks to listen to them without attacking them or being overly condescending on every issue. Good communication skills also mean that a leader can attract and even retain good talent (Folkman, 2010). Employees that feel respected and valued in a company are likely to stick as opposed to those that feel disrespected by the leadership. Having appropriate communication skills also enables the leader to solve conflicts amicably among the employees (Prewitt, Weil & McClure, 2011).

Different personality clashes in the office may result in disagreements and heated debates. It is hence essential to have a leader who understands the different perspective and can successfully calm the storm before it negatively affects the company (Heifetz & Linsky, 2011). Communication skills also extend beyond the verbatim. It is vital to learn nonverbal cues which would also lead to more impact on the people. For instance, a leader should understand how a warm hug, a smile or a pat on the back can do to an employee’s morale. An excellent communication skill is hence mandatory not only for a leader that wants to survive in this competitive and changing world but also appeal to a broader audience for the long haul.

High Ethical Values

Exceptional leaders understand the importance of following proper ethical values. Although one may form a company in a foreign land, it is important always to be mindful of one’s values and be ethical. Having high moral standards is reflected in a company’s production activities and the way they relate to customers (Prewitt et al., 2011). In a bid to cut through the excessive competition, it may be tempted to put exceptionally high prices or lower the product’s quality. An effective leader, however, is forward thinking, and they understand that their activities influence how the public views the company. Further, in production, the leader must also apply the best practices and use good quality ingredients to make products. Using defective means or low-quality materials may generate income in the short term but it may lead to the business closure in the long haul. Being ethical may also prevent the company from getting into endless lawsuits which drain not only the company’s resources but also time and effort which negatively affect the company’s rating. The leader must also ensure that the employees are treated well and compensated on time (Folkman, 2010). Understanding the labor laws and relations in every country that a company may venture into also enable the company’s goals and objectives to be well aligned which will also portray a right image to the public.

Visionary

Great leaders can look at the management in the long haul. Being visionary enables a manager to focus on their goals and to propel their team towards the right direction (Heifetz & Linsky, 2011). Additionally, such a leader believes in his ability and whatever he represents and is hence able to instill the same confidence in the people that he is working with. A focused leader learns best methods of motivating their employees and prompting them to deliver at their best and be excellent in whatever they do (LaBier, 2014). Getting to the global platform also requires that one is strategic and they have also done proper planning for their work. Such a leader should learn the new customers that they are targeting and how he can best appeal to them. The leader must also be aware of his limitations and deal with his weaknesses because that is likely to affect how he relates with other people (LaBier, 2014). Lastly, the leaders’ presence must always be felt, and he must be willing to think outside the box to reach the mass audience.

Summary

Conclusively, good leadership is hence not an imaginary concept, but one that must constantly be cultivated for a company to achieve the right results. It is crucial for the organization to invest in their leaders because they ultimately influence the direction that a company is growing. The ability to adapt to the new and changing world assures an organization of stability and better business prospects. For instance, technological advancements have changed how customers approach the companies and the point of sale. The leaders must hence be ready to train on the new business techniques and apply them accordingly in their business. Most importantly, good leaders must be objective and always learn when to project their feelings to others and when to keep calm.

Building trust among the customers and the employees is a key indicator of a company’s mission and the likelihood to succeed. A level-headed leader hence assures the employees that even if they erred, they are still valuable to the company and thus they will not be reprimanded for it. It is also important to always appreciate the efforts of others and be collaborative to achieve excellent and constant results. Good leaders hence understand that their efforts alone may not lead to the desired outcome but that they also have to allow the input of others to take precedence even if they are going to manage it. Good leaders are not only born, but they can also be trained towards becoming exceptional leaders that can drive a company to their highest level of success.

References

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Gentry, W., Deal, J. J., Stawiski, S., & Ruderman, M. (2012). Are Leaders Born or Made?. Center for Creative Leadership, (2), 1.

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Heifetz, R., & Linsky, M. (2011). Becoming an adaptive leader. Lifelong Faith, 26-33.

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Low, K. C. (2009). Leading Globally-What Makes a Successful Global Leader in Today’s Turbulent Times.

Prewitt, J., Weil, R., & McClure, A. (2011). Developing leadership in global and multi-cultural organizations. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2(13).