I am currently a manager and I want to become leader…..what are the competencies I need to work towards to make this happen in next 1 year time?”.
One of my mentee asked me this question “I am currently a manager and I want to become leader…..what are the competencies I need to work towards to make this happen in next 1 year time?”.
Though I answered him by referring and explaining him about how to push himself to his level of incompetency and be proactively think of situation which he need to handle in next 6 months etc.........but I wanted to know more about this question so went ahead and asked a group of leaders across the globe to help me to provide me answer on What will be their advice which I can carry to him .
Each advice below is from different perspective but meeting at common goal. I believe it is very very precious advices if we can digest 40% of this and practice without doubt we can lead ourselves to be leaders.
Daniel Schneider Cultural Architect
The answers I got are very eye opening. Remember these are from group with really high experience leadership techniques ,tools & practice:
the competencies are not necessarily exclusive; so it is possible and desirable to be both leader and manager. In fact, you may already have the competencies. Leaders tend to have a broad level of objectivity and the humility that generally comes with it. They also have an ability to persuade (sell) rather than inform (tell). The three competencies most directly related to successfully leading people and gaining commitment rather than compliance/resistance are persuasive sharing of information, interpersonal skills, and a threshold level of expertise.
Kenneth G. Lassiter Executive Search Consultant
Ask your mentee does he/she understand the big picture. How does his job performance affect the overall mission of the organization he represents? Then ask how does he/she think he/she can influence the direction or the outcomes of the over all mission. The answer will help you understand how they see themselves in their current role. Hence helping to identify the areas were development is needed.
Brian Grayless -Information Technology and Services Consultant and Professional
A HUGE mistake that many people make is that they assume that authority and leadership are the same thing. They are not. Managers are responsible for processes and efficiency. While leaders are responsible for direction, innovation and morale. Many of the required skills may overlap, but how they affect your role can be very different.
If you are already an experienced business person, I would recommend a few books that can greatly change your perspective and move you in the right direction.
1) Principle-centered Leadership, by Stephen R. Covey 2) The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, by John C. Maxwell 3) How to Master the Art of Selling Anything, Tom Hopkins
Many people wonder why I recommend #3. Well, #1 and #2 will give you the edge up on being a leader and help you understand what that means. However, as a leader, you need to also be persuasive and develop the personality to lead people without them knowing they are being led. You want them to follow and believe in your leadership. As a leader, you are constantly selling something: ideas, yourself, belief systems, potential, etc... You can become a nice, well-meaning leader. But if you can sell your perspective, you will struggle.
And, for good measure, if you haven't already read it, pick up "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" (Stephen R. Covey) and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" (Dale Carnegie).
Being a leader is something that is developed, although it can come more naturally for some. If you read, internalize and become the example of the material in these books.... you will be a great leader.
Mario Luis Tavares Ferreira -Owner, International Business Development
What I would like to suggest:
A common sentence that we hear often is that leadership is given not taken, is it true?
Another common sentence is that you are born a leader, that it is a natural gift.
In some aspects it is. But, there are some attitudes that can be taken to change that perception.
A born leader – or so called – is an individual with charisma. He has a natural empathy with people, that has an easily and friendly manner to talk and convince people to do what he wants. He has a global vision of situations and quick answers to the problems, he keeps himself cool when the world exploding around him. He remembers names and profiles of anyone around him. He is a multi-task professional. He can control different areas of business and even different businesses. He is a natural negotiator, internally and externally, on business environment. He manage people naturally without imposing positions. He evaluates, knows how to chose and attracts the best professionals to work with him. He is a visionary. He is a reference to the novice and also to the professional savvy, and so on.
Wow! It seems an endless list to accomplish!
Actually, those skills can and should be achieved by anyone that aims to have a senior position, to manage any organization, team or group.
First of all, you should make a self-evaluation to define if you want or not to be a leader, to have more responsibilities and to dedicate energy to achieve that goal. It is not an easy path, often shifting from success to failure and from failure to success very quickly, need to be stress resistant and many times it is a lonely path.
Be careful with suggestions like “10 steps to become a leader”, there is no magic, or recipe or formula to transform you into a leader. To be recognized as one it takes a long path and a natural evolution. As said in the beginning, leadership is given not taken.
But you can prepare your self to be ready, when comes the opportunity, to assume the responsibility.
Bellow you can find some suggestions to prepare your journey.
To continue reading:
http://marioferreira.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/to-lead-or-not-to-lead/
Darryl Barlett, SSMBB, CMC, CPA, PMP -Senior-Level Business and Information Technology Consultant
Specifically, here are the competencies you need:
Integrity and Honesty Technical Proficiency and Expertise Ability to solving problems and analyzing Issues Be Innovative (Adapting to Change) Practice Self Development Drive for Results Establish Personal Stretch Goals Take Initiative Communicate Powerfully Inspire and Motivate others Build Relationships Develop Others Foster Collaboration and Teamwork Develop a Strategic Perspective Champion Change Connect with the Outside World Be Customer Focused
This may not all happen in a year,
Koshy Philip - Human Resource Manager
There is a distinction between becoming a leader and BEING a Leader.
The normal way that people think is that you have to DO something : to HAVE something to BE a Leader.
However I recommend that you advice your mentee to first
BE------- a leader then DO--------- What ever needs to be done To HAVE -----------the competencies
To your and the mentee surprise , it may not even take 1 year.
If the whole world followed you, would you be pleased with where you took it?
Sally Graham - Sr. Mngr, Ecommerce OfficeMax
http://tppserver.mit.edu/esd801/readings/managers.pdf
Great reading the difference in leaders and managers..
Let me know your thoughts. I found this article by MIT very insightful..
Gardner Bradlee - Global Marketing Professional
Take these to heart. Sometimes the simplest things are the most effective. However they take practice and don;t come naturally to many people:
http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/oct2007/sb20071010_093227.htm
Soowan Scheuermann -Area Manager at Aquent
I think the first step is to understand why your mentee is bringing this question up. Do they have the feeling that they have a title with authority but no influence? My personal thought is that the key to leadership is "lead". You can not influence people in places and directions you have not been yourself. Whether it is character, work ethic, integrity, results, development etc., it is extremely difficult to lead where you have not been.
I would recommend the books "Becoming a Person of Influence" and "Winning with People" both by John C. Maxwell. Another good book is "Centurion Principles" by Jeff O'Leary
Once you identify your mentee's sphere of influence, then you can work on expanding that sphere through small tasks, projects, or measurable goals that they have to accomplish through others that report to them. Make sure that they need to accomplish them through others. Gradually, those projects will help your mentee understand how to lead through influence and motivation rather than manage through title and authority. The greater a person's influence, the greater their leadership.
Then... getting them to understand the balance of management and leadership will create an incredible asset.
Carry Metkowski -Director of Program Development at The Producers LLC
A quote I live with is, we are drawn to what is already in us. The fact that you are drawn to leading is clue that you are ready to begin the process of more fully expressing yourself in the organization.
If it were me, I would go three places for feedback. One- my current leader. Ask him/her for their view of your strengths and opportunities. Also, share where you grow into the organization and ask for specific help.
Two- Ask those you currently manage for anonymous feedback. Then create a plan to address the feedback with your leader and implement the plan for at-least 6 months, checking in with those it impacts monthly and re-evaluate with a follow-up feedback questionnaire to measure your success.
Three- The closest personal relationship in your life. Lets' face it, if you can't make it work at home, you can't really make it work anywhere. And to be honest this is where I get me best feedback.
Renato Reis - Sr. Systems Analyst - Operation Applications at The MathWorks
Do you lead in any other situation other than @ work?
Do you think you would follow someone like you? why?
When you are playing team sports, do you think your team mates know in the first 5 minutes of the game that you can be followed?
Walk the talk...
Cathy Hansell - President, Breakthrough Results, LLC
What a wonderful question, and a lifetime to answer. In my own experience, as well as learning from excellent mentors, good leadership comes from within yourself...a sincere, passionate drive for the betterment of the work and people around you. Everyone, in any role and at any level, can be a great leader.
I recommend that you first assess and understand your own personal drivers and desires, by reading books like "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "Purpose Driven Life" by Warren, "Radical Leap" by Steven Farber and 7 Habits by Covey (referenced above).
Then learn from the best leaders...Jack Welch (29 Leadership Secrets), Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan (Execution-the Discipline of Getting Things Done),Henry Cloud (9 Things A Leader Must Do) and John Collins (Good to Great). All of these authors are successful, motivating leaders and drivers of great change. Also, talk with leaders and people that you admire.
You will quickly see common key actions. One of the greatest leaders that I have even known,and have been priviledged to work for was named Fred. He was the brightest and kindest man, and appropriately termed a "people person". With his great intellect and kindness, he motivated and led large organizations to follow him.
Jim Sparks -Alternative Investment Advisor at Western Financial Planning Corporation
Here is the answer you are looking for: You are already a leader, otherwise you would not be a manager. To become a manager you need to exibit the qualities of a leader. For example you are probably a pace setter...you arrive early and stay late. You are available when your team members need your help (whether they asked for it or not). You want to know how your team will benefit, not how you will benefit. You are not opposed to hiring and promoting those who know more than you do and you are always looking for your replacement for when you move up. You are undoubtedly aware of a few adages such as "Givers Gain" from Dr. Ivan Misner, "Success might be possible if you don't try to achieve it all by youself" from Rev Robert Schuller. and "If you want to be trusted, be trustworthy. If you demand hard work, work hard. If you want your colleagues to level with you, level with them..." from founder and former CEO of the Vanguard Mutual Fund Group and authur of Enough, True Measures of Money, Business and Life. Also: "Never, Never, Never, Never Give up!" Sir Winston Churchill. Above all: "Leaders are readers and readers are Leaders" Jim Rohn. Hang in there.
Travis Keenum - Experienced Human Resources Professional
It's really not as difficult as some might think. Tell your mentee to focus first on being a teacher. If he will work hard at this for a year he will develop all of the other characteristics it takes to become a leader.
if a manager wants to be a leader he should focus first on being a teacher. If the mentee will expend the energy and take the time to teach his or her subordinates, he or she will develop the skills that are necessary to be a leader.
krishna koney -Senior Software Consultant at Intel
1. Lead by example ; Set yourself as a Role Model to the team
2. Innovate
3. Mentor
Linda Garza Kalaf, SPHR, GPHR, MA -Manager, HR at Veolia Transportation
According to the Society for Human Resource Management, the competencies you need to become a global leader include:
1. Thinking globally
2. Appreciating cultural diversity
3. Developing technical savvy
4. Building partnerships and alliances
5. Sharing leadership
Swamy Swarna - Quality, HRD, Communications, Author, Editor, Reviewer, Holistic and Spiritual Healer
My first reaction was: is a manager not a leader? Then as I was glancing through some of the comments by others (I did not read them so as not to influence my own thinking), my next thought was this: a leader leads you into new territories and so must be daring, innovative and should have a good vision and a goal. So, your manager must learn to do some out-of-box thinking and should have skills in change management, innovation, clear vision and a goal worth looking up to.
W. Haddon Judson - Physicist Engineer, Technical Consultant
Leadership is vision, not management. Management is the ability to execute the vision. Leadership is also the ability to assemble an effective management team. One can have the "Leadership Spark" and start out in management. Then progress to the next level. If the spark is not there, the best you can hope for is to be as effective as possible in your management role. Taking various courses and reading the various papers as suggested above may help you become a more effective manager, but will not help you in any sort of leadership role. Learning the role of a positive and forceful leader is basically "On the Job Training". Reading articles and publications about various business leaders like Trump or Gates only sells books. You will have to go out into the real world and stumble, fall and pick yourself up until you find your own personal style. You have to know your own limitations, your area of expertise.
Chris Klinker
The above is some very sound advise with many common threads.
The one thing I believe I can add, is that in order to lead you must first be respected. And always, always, always remember: ~Respect is not a given right; ~You must earn it each and every day
Take care and never stop learning.
Ravi Kumar Putcha
a set of "essential" qualities to refine his list, and the ones I can think of are:
1. A strong ethical foundation,
2. The ability to know when to switch between "big picture" and details,
3. A clear understanding of own to-dos vs get-dones,
4. The ability to keep the team aware of the overall objectives of a project/organisation, and how the team's work contributes to attaining them,
5. A strong customer/client-centric approach,
6. The awareness of the "marketplace" and how well prepared the organisation is to meet these expectations.
7. Establishing a trust-based relationship with the team he leads.
Mahesh Verma
I would like to add the following 10 qualities that I suppose anyone should have to be a leader - 1. Leader should have the "vision" - he should be able to "see" and "show" where his direction leads to. Leader is expected to be focused.
2. A leader should be a very good communicator. Having vision is not enough, if your team fails to "see" what you "see", they will follow you blindly (because thay have to) and will not be able to understand "why" they are doing "what" they are doing.
3. Leader should add value - to the organization , to the people.
4. Leader should be able to provide solutions.
5. Leader should be a good listener.
6. Leader should be a team player. Leader can get the best from his team only if he does not practice bias in any form.
7. Leader needs to be compassionate but not emotional.
8. As a leader you need to "set" examples for your team and not "give" examples. Team believes and lives by the leader, who they feel, is himself capable of executing what he preaches.
9. Leader should stand for his team and treat the team members with respect. Team that knows that its leader will back them, will not hesitate to take "right" action in the interest of the company.
10. Last but not the least, leader must be able to take responsibility for the performance of his team. If the team does not produce results, it is as much a failure of the leader as it would be of the team / team member.
One of my mentee asked me this question “I am currently a manager and I want to become leader…..what are the competencies I need to work towards to make this happen in next 1 year time?”.
Though I answered him by referring and explaining him about how to push himself to his level of incompetency and be proactively think of situation which he need to handle in next 6 months etc.........but I wanted to know more about this question so went ahead and asked a group of leaders across the globe to help me to provide me answer on What will be their advice which I can carry to him .
Each advice below is from different perspective but meeting at common goal. I believe it is very very precious advices if we can digest 40% of this and practice without doubt we can lead ourselves to be leaders.
Daniel Schneider Cultural Architect
The answers I got are very eye opening. Remember these are from group with really high experience leadership techniques ,tools & practice:
the competencies are not necessarily exclusive; so it is possible and desirable to be both leader and manager. In fact, you may already have the competencies. Leaders tend to have a broad level of objectivity and the humility that generally comes with it. They also have an ability to persuade (sell) rather than inform (tell). The three competencies most directly related to successfully leading people and gaining commitment rather than compliance/resistance are persuasive sharing of information, interpersonal skills, and a threshold level of expertise.
Kenneth G. Lassiter Executive Search Consultant
Ask your mentee does he/she understand the big picture. How does his job performance affect the overall mission of the organization he represents? Then ask how does he/she think he/she can influence the direction or the outcomes of the over all mission. The answer will help you understand how they see themselves in their current role. Hence helping to identify the areas were development is needed.
Brian Grayless -Information Technology and Services Consultant and Professional
A HUGE mistake that many people make is that they assume that authority and leadership are the same thing. They are not. Managers are responsible for processes and efficiency. While leaders are responsible for direction, innovation and morale. Many of the required skills may overlap, but how they affect your role can be very different.
If you are already an experienced business person, I would recommend a few books that can greatly change your perspective and move you in the right direction.
1) Principle-centered Leadership, by Stephen R. Covey 2) The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, by John C. Maxwell 3) How to Master the Art of Selling Anything, Tom Hopkins
Many people wonder why I recommend #3. Well, #1 and #2 will give you the edge up on being a leader and help you understand what that means. However, as a leader, you need to also be persuasive and develop the personality to lead people without them knowing they are being led. You want them to follow and believe in your leadership. As a leader, you are constantly selling something: ideas, yourself, belief systems, potential, etc... You can become a nice, well-meaning leader. But if you can sell your perspective, you will struggle.
And, for good measure, if you haven't already read it, pick up "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" (Stephen R. Covey) and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" (Dale Carnegie).
Being a leader is something that is developed, although it can come more naturally for some. If you read, internalize and become the example of the material in these books.... you will be a great leader.
Mario Luis Tavares Ferreira -Owner, International Business Development
What I would like to suggest:
A common sentence that we hear often is that leadership is given not taken, is it true?
Another common sentence is that you are born a leader, that it is a natural gift.
In some aspects it is. But, there are some attitudes that can be taken to change that perception.
A born leader – or so called – is an individual with charisma. He has a natural empathy with people, that has an easily and friendly manner to talk and convince people to do what he wants. He has a global vision of situations and quick answers to the problems, he keeps himself cool when the world exploding around him. He remembers names and profiles of anyone around him. He is a multi-task professional. He can control different areas of business and even different businesses. He is a natural negotiator, internally and externally, on business environment. He manage people naturally without imposing positions. He evaluates, knows how to chose and attracts the best professionals to work with him. He is a visionary. He is a reference to the novice and also to the professional savvy, and so on.
Wow! It seems an endless list to accomplish!
Actually, those skills can and should be achieved by anyone that aims to have a senior position, to manage any organization, team or group.
First of all, you should make a self-evaluation to define if you want or not to be a leader, to have more responsibilities and to dedicate energy to achieve that goal. It is not an easy path, often shifting from success to failure and from failure to success very quickly, need to be stress resistant and many times it is a lonely path.
Be careful with suggestions like “10 steps to become a leader”, there is no magic, or recipe or formula to transform you into a leader. To be recognized as one it takes a long path and a natural evolution. As said in the beginning, leadership is given not taken.
But you can prepare your self to be ready, when comes the opportunity, to assume the responsibility.
Bellow you can find some suggestions to prepare your journey.
To continue reading:
http://marioferreira.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/to-lead-or-not-to-lead/
Darryl Barlett, SSMBB, CMC, CPA, PMP -Senior-Level Business and Information Technology Consultant
Specifically, here are the competencies you need:
Integrity and Honesty Technical Proficiency and Expertise Ability to solving problems and analyzing Issues Be Innovative (Adapting to Change) Practice Self Development Drive for Results Establish Personal Stretch Goals Take Initiative Communicate Powerfully Inspire and Motivate others Build Relationships Develop Others Foster Collaboration and Teamwork Develop a Strategic Perspective Champion Change Connect with the Outside World Be Customer Focused
This may not all happen in a year,
Koshy Philip - Human Resource Manager
There is a distinction between becoming a leader and BEING a Leader.
The normal way that people think is that you have to DO something : to HAVE something to BE a Leader.
However I recommend that you advice your mentee to first
BE------- a leader then DO--------- What ever needs to be done To HAVE -----------the competencies
To your and the mentee surprise , it may not even take 1 year.
If the whole world followed you, would you be pleased with where you took it?
Sally Graham - Sr. Mngr, Ecommerce OfficeMax
http://tppserver.mit.edu/esd801/readings/managers.pdf
Great reading the difference in leaders and managers..
Let me know your thoughts. I found this article by MIT very insightful..
Gardner Bradlee - Global Marketing Professional
Take these to heart. Sometimes the simplest things are the most effective. However they take practice and don;t come naturally to many people:
http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/oct2007/sb20071010_093227.htm
Soowan Scheuermann -Area Manager at Aquent
I think the first step is to understand why your mentee is bringing this question up. Do they have the feeling that they have a title with authority but no influence? My personal thought is that the key to leadership is "lead". You can not influence people in places and directions you have not been yourself. Whether it is character, work ethic, integrity, results, development etc., it is extremely difficult to lead where you have not been.
I would recommend the books "Becoming a Person of Influence" and "Winning with People" both by John C. Maxwell. Another good book is "Centurion Principles" by Jeff O'Leary
Once you identify your mentee's sphere of influence, then you can work on expanding that sphere through small tasks, projects, or measurable goals that they have to accomplish through others that report to them. Make sure that they need to accomplish them through others. Gradually, those projects will help your mentee understand how to lead through influence and motivation rather than manage through title and authority. The greater a person's influence, the greater their leadership.
Then... getting them to understand the balance of management and leadership will create an incredible asset.
Carry Metkowski -Director of Program Development at The Producers LLC
A quote I live with is, we are drawn to what is already in us. The fact that you are drawn to leading is clue that you are ready to begin the process of more fully expressing yourself in the organization.
If it were me, I would go three places for feedback. One- my current leader. Ask him/her for their view of your strengths and opportunities. Also, share where you grow into the organization and ask for specific help.
Two- Ask those you currently manage for anonymous feedback. Then create a plan to address the feedback with your leader and implement the plan for at-least 6 months, checking in with those it impacts monthly and re-evaluate with a follow-up feedback questionnaire to measure your success.
Three- The closest personal relationship in your life. Lets' face it, if you can't make it work at home, you can't really make it work anywhere. And to be honest this is where I get me best feedback.
Renato Reis - Sr. Systems Analyst - Operation Applications at The MathWorks
Do you lead in any other situation other than @ work?
Do you think you would follow someone like you? why?
When you are playing team sports, do you think your team mates know in the first 5 minutes of the game that you can be followed?
Walk the talk...
Cathy Hansell - President, Breakthrough Results, LLC
What a wonderful question, and a lifetime to answer. In my own experience, as well as learning from excellent mentors, good leadership comes from within yourself...a sincere, passionate drive for the betterment of the work and people around you. Everyone, in any role and at any level, can be a great leader.
I recommend that you first assess and understand your own personal drivers and desires, by reading books like "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "Purpose Driven Life" by Warren, "Radical Leap" by Steven Farber and 7 Habits by Covey (referenced above).
Then learn from the best leaders...Jack Welch (29 Leadership Secrets), Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan (Execution-the Discipline of Getting Things Done),Henry Cloud (9 Things A Leader Must Do) and John Collins (Good to Great). All of these authors are successful, motivating leaders and drivers of great change. Also, talk with leaders and people that you admire.
You will quickly see common key actions. One of the greatest leaders that I have even known,and have been priviledged to work for was named Fred. He was the brightest and kindest man, and appropriately termed a "people person". With his great intellect and kindness, he motivated and led large organizations to follow him.
Jim Sparks -Alternative Investment Advisor at Western Financial Planning Corporation
Here is the answer you are looking for: You are already a leader, otherwise you would not be a manager. To become a manager you need to exibit the qualities of a leader. For example you are probably a pace setter...you arrive early and stay late. You are available when your team members need your help (whether they asked for it or not). You want to know how your team will benefit, not how you will benefit. You are not opposed to hiring and promoting those who know more than you do and you are always looking for your replacement for when you move up. You are undoubtedly aware of a few adages such as "Givers Gain" from Dr. Ivan Misner, "Success might be possible if you don't try to achieve it all by youself" from Rev Robert Schuller. and "If you want to be trusted, be trustworthy. If you demand hard work, work hard. If you want your colleagues to level with you, level with them..." from founder and former CEO of the Vanguard Mutual Fund Group and authur of Enough, True Measures of Money, Business and Life. Also: "Never, Never, Never, Never Give up!" Sir Winston Churchill. Above all: "Leaders are readers and readers are Leaders" Jim Rohn. Hang in there.
Travis Keenum - Experienced Human Resources Professional
It's really not as difficult as some might think. Tell your mentee to focus first on being a teacher. If he will work hard at this for a year he will develop all of the other characteristics it takes to become a leader.
if a manager wants to be a leader he should focus first on being a teacher. If the mentee will expend the energy and take the time to teach his or her subordinates, he or she will develop the skills that are necessary to be a leader.
krishna koney -Senior Software Consultant at Intel
1. Lead by example ; Set yourself as a Role Model to the team
2. Innovate
3. Mentor
Linda Garza Kalaf, SPHR, GPHR, MA -Manager, HR at Veolia Transportation
According to the Society for Human Resource Management, the competencies you need to become a global leader include:
1. Thinking globally
2. Appreciating cultural diversity
3. Developing technical savvy
4. Building partnerships and alliances
5. Sharing leadership
Swamy Swarna - Quality, HRD, Communications, Author, Editor, Reviewer, Holistic and Spiritual Healer
My first reaction was: is a manager not a leader? Then as I was glancing through some of the comments by others (I did not read them so as not to influence my own thinking), my next thought was this: a leader leads you into new territories and so must be daring, innovative and should have a good vision and a goal. So, your manager must learn to do some out-of-box thinking and should have skills in change management, innovation, clear vision and a goal worth looking up to.
W. Haddon Judson - Physicist Engineer, Technical Consultant
Leadership is vision, not management. Management is the ability to execute the vision. Leadership is also the ability to assemble an effective management team. One can have the "Leadership Spark" and start out in management. Then progress to the next level. If the spark is not there, the best you can hope for is to be as effective as possible in your management role. Taking various courses and reading the various papers as suggested above may help you become a more effective manager, but will not help you in any sort of leadership role. Learning the role of a positive and forceful leader is basically "On the Job Training". Reading articles and publications about various business leaders like Trump or Gates only sells books. You will have to go out into the real world and stumble, fall and pick yourself up until you find your own personal style. You have to know your own limitations, your area of expertise.
Chris Klinker
The above is some very sound advise with many common threads.
The one thing I believe I can add, is that in order to lead you must first be respected. And always, always, always remember: ~Respect is not a given right; ~You must earn it each and every day
Take care and never stop learning.
Ravi Kumar Putcha
a set of "essential" qualities to refine his list, and the ones I can think of are:
1. A strong ethical foundation,
2. The ability to know when to switch between "big picture" and details,
3. A clear understanding of own to-dos vs get-dones,
4. The ability to keep the team aware of the overall objectives of a project/organisation, and how the team's work contributes to attaining them,
5. A strong customer/client-centric approach,
6. The awareness of the "marketplace" and how well prepared the organisation is to meet these expectations.
7. Establishing a trust-based relationship with the team he leads.
Mahesh Verma
I would like to add the following 10 qualities that I suppose anyone should have to be a leader - 1. Leader should have the "vision" - he should be able to "see" and "show" where his direction leads to. Leader is expected to be focused.
2. A leader should be a very good communicator. Having vision is not enough, if your team fails to "see" what you "see", they will follow you blindly (because thay have to) and will not be able to understand "why" they are doing "what" they are doing.
3. Leader should add value - to the organization , to the people.
4. Leader should be able to provide solutions.
5. Leader should be a good listener.
6. Leader should be a team player. Leader can get the best from his team only if he does not practice bias in any form.
7. Leader needs to be compassionate but not emotional.
8. As a leader you need to "set" examples for your team and not "give" examples. Team believes and lives by the leader, who they feel, is himself capable of executing what he preaches.
9. Leader should stand for his team and treat the team members with respect. Team that knows that its leader will back them, will not hesitate to take "right" action in the interest of the company.
10. Last but not the least, leader must be able to take responsibility for the performance of his team. If the team does not produce results, it is as much a failure of the leader as it would be of the team / team member.
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