In general, each company, group, project, idea, etc., is headed by a person, who makes sure that everything that is started comes to a satisfactory end, without major setbacks.
This person is the one who assumes the responsibilities, is in charge of representing the others and giving them a voice so that they are heard. Nothing moves without him knowing it and, as desperate as the situation may seem, he has everything under control.
He always has a plan B, C or D, in case the situation warrants it and he does not give up overnight, but insists and persists until he succeeds. All these characteristics point towards a type of person, a leader.
There are those who are born with an innate quality of leadership. However, there are others who are born to be led by others. However, it may be the case that this type of person, for one reason or another, has to assume the role of leader. In such a case, how can he really be? Is it possible?
Don’t let the parrot go! On this occasion we will be sharing with you some recommendations so that you become the leader you want to be. In addition, we will let you know what qualities you have to work on, as well as the role you are expected to play.
You will also be aware of what an anti-leader is and how you can avoid becoming one. Therefore, you cannot stop reading this article. Here you will find everything you need to know about leadership in general. So, regardless of the branch where you work, you can be very useful. But, without further ado, let’s get down to business and start tackling the subject.
Instructions to be a modern leader
A leader is a person with certain qualities and skills that allow him to influence other people, in order to direct them to achieve an end or objective.
It is a person who guides a group and does so in an orderly manner. Usually, he is the one who heads a hierarchical system. In other words, he is usually the head of an organization. However, it can happen that the one who plays the role of leader is not the hierarchical boss.
A leader is usually able to encourage, motivate and influence the behavior or way of thinking of those who make up his work team, in order to achieve a common good. She transmits a global vision, shows confidence in the group, is capable of guiding and moving others to action.
He has the ability to keep the group in high spirits, despite the obstacles that may arise throughout the project. When necessary, correct any mistakes that have been made and reorient the ship to reach a safe harbor.
Since he knows each one of those who work with him, he channels all their potential and organizes them according to the functions that each one can perform satisfactorily.
However, contrary to what you might think, did you know that there are different types of leaders? Let’s see what characterizes each one. So you will know which one identifies you.
Types of leaders
The modern leader is known as a Manager; however, depending on the way they exercise their leadership, we can find the following types:
- The spontaneous: this arises, as its name indicates, spontaneously when a certain situation or problem occurs. He is usually the one who takes command and gives instructions on what actions will be taken and how they will be carried out in order to be successful.
- The traditional one: his power lies in the privilege he has of holding a position. It can also be a person who is part of a previously established power group, as is the case of monarchies and family-based companies. The position of leader is inherited by another family member, regardless of whether this person has the qualities or the ability to lead his subordinates well.
- The authoritarian: as his name indicates, this person is in charge of making decisions in an authoritarian manner, without listening to others and without giving explanations about his actions. For this reason, few are those who second it and end up losing their management .
- The democratic: contrary to the authoritarian leader, the decisions of this leader are the result of consulting others. He raises the problems with the purpose of listening to the opinions and advice that others can contribute.
- The liberal: is the one who is in charge of delegating some important decisions to others. In this way, he allows his abilities to them.
- The Charismatic: Due to their personality, they have the ability to influence certain people. In fact, they become their source of inspiration. In general, these people tend to have great confidence in themselves and are the ones we can find in fields related to politics, religion, different social movements, etc. Some great charismatic leaders of the past were Mahatma Gandhi, Adolf Hitler, Martin Luther King, etc. These people inspired others and even got them to achieve various ends. It is also possible to classify the types of leaders that exist according to the field in which they work. Some of them are:
- Politicians: they are the type of people with qualities of protector, integrator and guide. On his shoulders rests all the confidence of a sector or people to govern it. A political leader is also considered to be one who has the objective of liberating a people or nation, as was the case with Simón Bolívar in South America and Nelson Mandela in South Africa.
- The religious: they are the ones who take the lead in ecclesiastical institutions of relative importance. It is also about those who promote a religious movement, with the purpose that others follow the precepts that it teaches.
- The social ones: they are those who, in some way, are in charge of guiding a social movement by influencing others to support a certain tendency or ideal, for example, the concept of an ecologically sustainable world, political and social equality in people , etc.
- The Entrepreneur: This is the type of person who has managed to carry out different projects related to business. He carries them out effectively and with certainty. So he stands out among other businessmen by influencing others.
Now that you know what kind of leader you want to be, the next thing is to discover what you need to achieve it. Therefore, pay close attention.
What do you need to be a modern leader?
While it is true that we all possess many qualities, to be a true leader you must have some specific ones. For example:
- You need to have confidence in yourself. This does not mean that you will stop being humble. Rather, it has to do with trusting yourself to make decisions when a crisis situation arises.
- Being able to make decisions. This is closely related to the previous point. However, it is not only about being able to decide, but also about having the criteria to do so, since many bosses make decisions arbitrarily that the team does not share.
- Be communicative. A good leader needs to keep the lines of communication open with his team in order to know everything that is happening. Likewise, it is necessary for him to have the ability to transmit what motivates him to act in a certain way.
- Have emotional control. It is not allowed to get unhinged, lose control of yourself or your course. You must always be able to perform under pressure, no matter how difficult the situation may be.
- You must work more than everyone else. Although many people think that the leader is the one who works the least, in reality it is quite the opposite. He must take the lead when it comes to working and helping others.
- Must be organized and planner. Since coordinating a work team is not an easy task, something that will help you achieve it is having control of the entire process at all times. From its initial phase to its completion.
- Be charismatic. This is one of the best known characteristics among good leaders. In fact, we all keep in mind that a leader is always a positive person and, at the same time, very persuasive.
- Be nice and polite. Since he is the person who represents the whole group and who sells an idea or work, it is important that he has the ability to relate easily with others and that others feel that they can approach him with confidence.
- Show empathy. This quality is essential. Especially when it comes to understanding the way of thinking and the needs of team members. In order to bring out the full potential of your group, you must know and understand the emotional state of each one of the members.
- Be cooperative. He must always be willing to help others and convey the idea that they can count on him.
- Act justly. No matter what the situation that arises and who is involved, you should always be able to interpret what is happening and make the most fair decision possible, so that the vast majority feel satisfied.
- Be responsible. Every leader has been able to reach that place thanks to the fact that he earned the trust of others. Which implies taking responsibility for the decisions he makes and the actions he promotes in his team.
- Be optimistic. One of the main responsibilities of a good leader is to keep his team motivated. But, in order to achieve this, he must always manifest an optimistic attitude and see the glass as half full, even if it seems to everyone else that it is half empty.
As you have realized, if you do not possess these qualities, you will always have the opportunity to cultivate or work on them. You don’t need to go to a university to learn how to be a leader, as it is not about knowledge, but rather about attitudes. Therefore, what tips should you take into account to become a leader?
Tips to be a modern leader
- Constantly educate yourself. It is important that you are well informed about what you do. If you have doubts or do not know where you stand, it is unlikely that you will be able to lead your team successfully. Know the market well and the public towards whom your product or service is directed. In this way, you can devise strategies that help you position yourself among the best.
- Talk less and act more. A good leader always does what he preaches. For example, if he wants your work team to arrive on time, you must be the first to be in the company when it opens its doors.
- Learn to listen. A good leader knows how to listen. If you pay attention to what others have to say, you may be surprised at what you can learn from them. Therefore, take the time to meet with your work team and discuss your management, the decisions that have been made and the expectations for the future.
- Share your knowledge with others. By training others, you will get them to develop new perspectives to solve problems to face the challenges that arise.
Remember that it is important that you congratulate in public, but that you correct in private. A good leader does not seek to ridicule others. This would cause his morale to drop and make him feel demotivated, which he would never want to happen.
Be humble, determined, understanding and approachable. By doing this, you will not only earn the trust and respect of the entire group, but also be a good leader.