In 
Many of us believe that if we work hard, meet targets and keep on delivering results consistently, we will be on our way to becoming a true leader.
It would be great, if this was true. Unfortunately, it is not! So, what do we need to do besides working hard and accomplishing our goals? Here is a list of actionable points that I have seen many successful people implement in their career.
Demonstrate honesty, courage
Walking the talk is the key trait to becoming a leader. You need to have the ability to articulate what you think and then to execute it as well. Be truthful and honest to yourself and your employer.
Display positive temperament
Always play positive and hard irrespective of the state of the market. I have seen many people demonstrate capabilities when things go well and struggle when they dont. Then again, I have also seen people failing to handle the risks of exponential growth. Learn to balance the tide.
Be all that you can be, influence others
Simply put, drive your career and growth by being earnest about your strengths and areas of improvement and constantly exploring the unknown in terms of new projects or career opportunities. It is always good to seek feedback from peers and managers, and strive for self-development, influencing others in the process.
Involve yourself, communicate
Get involved in all aspects of the work you do viz, when someone needs help, when there is a crisis or when there is a situation where no leadership is being shown. This will make you stand out.
Live in the present
Make sure you know what is happening in the industry you are working in, what are the trends and how external events influence your workplace. Leaders appreciate people who are well-informed and in sync with the developments around.
Plan for the future
One consequence of failing to live in the present is that you risk a setback that you could have anticipated. The fact is, if it is not in your nature to anticipate, then you normally would not. But you should at least try and learn. Those constantly looking around for trends are normally best suited for leadership.
Collaborate and cooperate
It is surprising how many individuals still resist collaboration or sharing credit, even though we know how much more we can achieve when we bring everyone together to solve a problem, or celebrate a victory. As teams become more dispersed, collaboration is mandatory for leadership.
Show initiative
There is no way of knowing how challenging a new project or assignment will be. So, individuals are often reluctant to be associated with an untested idea. Showing positive temperament and taking risk at that time demonstrates you are not bound by what exists but are open to innovation and trying new things.
What I have shared with you are key characteristics of a good leader. In fact, as you evaluate your own leadership skills, try to find out what is it that you need to focus your energies on. You may also want to find out how influential you are among your peers and team-members.
While I am sure each organisation and team has a vision, as a leader, it is important to assess whether you are doing enough to lead others to achieve that vision. Also, introspect whether you need to work on being a person of character and setting a good example for others? What is your level of enthusiasm and have you learned from past failures? Are you making a commitment to life-long learning?
Welcome to leadership!
The author is CEO of SurgeForth Technologies and specialises in HR analytics
Add new comment