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Are leaders born or made? The debate rages on with both camps pontificating on the issue. But if truth be told, leadership is a learning process in the environment in which one operates. Its the circumstances, both good and bad, that shape an individual into a leader. The saying, experience is the best teacher, holds true, as it helps in the evolution of a leader and leadership values. Leadership is a constant process of refining oneself and developing skills, which can be emulated by others, or would enable others to follow you.
Get the basics right
Leaders are not made in heaven; lets rest the case. Individuals who aspire to become leaders or develop leadership skills need to get their basics right. To begin with, a leader must have shared vision and ensure that the rub-off effect is felt by his team. S/he must be able to solve any complicated issues, inspire the team and be a mentor to them. Those who exhibit leadership qualities are constantly endeavouring to develop and evolve as better leaders and decision-makers. Ability to articulate your vision with clarity and utmost honesty and provide a larger picture for the benefit of all is a very critical component of being a leader.
Leveraging technology
In the past, technology or IT was looked down upon in most large organisations and considered as a sundrydivision. The opportunity to prove your leadership skills here was minimal. However, with time, technology has proved itself and is today driving the vision of most management teams. As technology heads, you can leverage IT to drive innovations, create performance-oriented work culture, increase operational efficiency, which would result in business growthand thus, prove your leadership qualities. Technology provides the platform to grow, forge new alliances, work out business strategies and exhibit your leadership attributes during any crisis, be it business, finance related or transactional.
Best Ingredients
For people management, the most important leadership quality is absolute honesty. A true leader is transparent in his approach, honest in his dealings and maintains clear communication during any situation, especially when one is struck with a crisis. For the IT managers, specifically, it is imperative to have a great relationship with customers: through appropriate assessment of their problem, display of right skill set and clear communication. People management also involves handling your team, reposing confidence in them and finding ways to assign specific task to each member. All the while, the leader must ensure that he or she is in control of the situation.
The author isCIO & Executive Director, Parafora Technologies.
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