It took me a while to compile this piece and I do apologize for the wait. I just wanted to make sure that certain things were said in a way that people understood and were able to fully (or mostly) grasp the message being conveyed. Leadership is a complex topic that one will never truly understood until they are called to serve. It is a position that can be very rewarding, but also tolling. My hope is that by the end of this piece, all the people reading either have a better understanding of what it takes and means to be a leader, and/or find a newfound appreciation for the leaders they may know. I hope this piece makes up for it being released so late.
We've all heard the saying that "leaders are born, not made" and personally, I don't agree with it. I do believe that people can be born with or naturally have the qualities to lead, but that doesn't necessarily make them a good leader. That just means they are capable of leading. However, for an important role and position as a leader, it is a never-ending learning experience. John F. Kennedy could not have said it better when he stated, "Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." No matter how much we try to deny it, no leader is perfect. That is why as a leader, one must continue to find ways to improve themselves, their leadership skills, their connections with people, and methods of reaching others. Leadership isn't supposed to be an easy job, but the reward is well worth it.
So what does it take to be a leader? What qualities must one have to help them in this role?
> One major quality to have is being personable. People won't trust you if they don't like you (shout out to Metro Boomin). You will be interacting with people in the same position as you are, as well as the people you are leading. If you can not connect with them in a positive manner, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage from the jump. People want someone leading them that they can relate to and feel comfortable around. Being personable is a life skill that everyone will need. Whether it is in a job environment or networking with people we meet on a daily basis, one must be able to connect with those they come in contact with to be successful. As a leader, this is both necessary and crucial to your success and impact.
> The second quality is making your presence known. This can be anything from having a strong voice that demands attention, giving off the vibe of a mature person people feel they can listen to and/or trust, to even being a well-known person in the community that people respect. This is necessary because if you want to be a leader, you have to give people a reason to listen to what you have to say and believe that you have their best interests at heart. If they don't acknowledge you as a leader, or feel as if they do not need to answer to someone like you, then you have lost your flock. Technically, a leader can't make you do anything, but they have people who follow their commands because they play a strong role.
> The third quality is communication. This means delegating tasks to individuals clearly, addressing people in an effective way, and being confident in what you say. You must be able to delegate tasks and be authoritative when doing so in order for people listen to you and carry out their duties. You must be able to effectively address people in a manner in which they understand the message you are conveying. You must (and I mean absolutely must) be confident in what you say because as a leader, if you falter or are very hesitant with things like decision-making and delegation, it shows weakness. That weakness is something that people can either exploit in a number of different ways or use as a reason to not follow your leadership. People want - no, they need - a strong image of a leader who not only conveys and understands their thoughts and concerns, but also can get things done. If you are a leader, remember that you were given the position for a reason. Use that as a source of strength to be bold and confident in your actions.
> The fourth, and one of the most important qualities a leader needs, is patience. I can not stress this enough. Patience really is a virtue. If you do not have the patience to deal with those working with you and those following you, your job is going to get more and more stressful with each passing day. There are a lot of different things that come at you without warning, and as a leader, it is your responsibility to address these things in a calm and collected manner. You can't be as exasperated and flustered as everyone else because they are looking up to you to show them what to do, and ensure them that everything will be alright. This is one of the factors that make being a leader a very tough and demanding job. You don't realize just how much is asked of you and the complexity of the possible situations you may find yourself in until you take on the task of leading. That is why patience is so necessary. You have to be able to take whatever is dished at you, handle it and move on. You are basically at times asked to do the impossible. But hey, who said this was going to easy?
> The fifth quality, and one people don't think much about, is actually being able to lead. As funny as it seems, being able to lead is something one must really think deeply about. That means asking yourself a few questions: Can you handle the pressure of being the face of the community you lead? Should you lead or would you be more of a help as a follower? Even if you have all the right qualities, is your heart really in it? Is leading this body of people a passion or just a resume filler? This, in my opinion, is one of the most crucial and important qualities in being a leader. It takes a lot to lead and a lot is expected of you. Steve Jobs explained it pretty well when he said, "Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected." Many times people lead or take on big positions just for the name, and not because they want to see the community get to a better place than where they are now. It disheartens me to see these people take up positions someone more invested could be occupying. Some don't even try as much to help the community but rather look out for themselves. So before taking on a position as a leader, or even if you are serving in the role now, make sure your heart is really in it and your reasoning is just. I say this because when things get tough and you question why you took on the position, you will need that passion and/or desire to help the people you are leading to keep you on track. Also, it will remind you why you are taking on the additional stress and responsibility.
> One last thing - be thankful. We all know the significance of giving thanks to those who help us and we know how it feels to be appreciated for what we have done. Make sure you show that same appreciation to your staff and those who assist you along the way. Being thanked gives people motivation; it helps remind people that they are doing a good job; it is one of the most underestimated actions one can do to another person. Of course people sign up to do a certain job, but as a leader, you must continue to keep up the morale of your team and at times, remind them that you couldn't be doing as good a job without their contributions. Your appreciation will go a long way.
These aren't all the qualities one must have to be a leader, neither am I implying that if one does not possess every quality that they will fail. There are plenty of other qualities that make a big difference in leadership and can make up for qualities you may not possess, such as being funny, charming, or even attractive (because psychologically, we pay more attention to people we find attractive; however, that doesn't make up for competence). If there are things you lack or areas you to strengthen, the job may just be harder for you to handle, but not impossible.
To those who criticize leaders or never have anything positive to say about them, I have a few words to share. It is so easy for people to point out the wrong that people do, and undermine the good they have accomplished. No matter how big or small a person's leadership position is, one can't really grasp how big a job they have unless they are in their shoes. Just because their achievements aren't talked about as much or their contributions aren't always known by the general public, doesn't mean they haven't done their job. We have to remember that leaders are humans, too. They make
mistakes, they have feelings, they have stress and they
have lives.We can't expect them be perfect. As I said before, it is a learning experience and you pick things up along the way to improve yourself. It is a different story if a leader is not doing their job at all or isn't even trying. However, if we are always so quick to point fingers and criticize what people do, how can we expect them to improve without any support? Hopefully the next time you have a leader who makes a mistake or doesn't do something the way you would have liked, you lean more towards working with them towards a solution rather than putting them down.
Take everything I am saying with a grain of salt. Don't think just because leading is a tough job that it won't be a pleasant or rewarding experience. President Obama said, "That's the best part about being president, I can do what I want." Now he doesn't mean be a tyrant or a dictator, but that there are perks that make being a leader bearable, and even fun! I am telling you this so that leaders have a better understanding of what is expected of them, and those who aren't leaders or who tend to criticize them, get a taste of what is expected of them. There are numerous things leaders do and they are not always given credit for it. Personally, I have a newfound appreciation for those in leadership positions because I realize just how much they go through. They do things because they have the best interest of others at heart, and that makes everything worth the sacrifice.
To my leaders, remember that the future rewards those who press on. You may want to complain and you may want to feel sorry for yourself for your shortcomings, but the best thing you can do for yourself and those you lead is to press on through your struggles. Trust me when I say it will pay off in the end.
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