There are many different characteristics required of a leader. Some say, to be an effective leader, one has to have clear foresight, a strong vision, great people skills, and a never-say-die attitude. Aside from leading a team, he must also be good at encouraging each member of the team, developing their strengths and harnessing their talents.
The type of leader that can be effective depends entirely on the environment they will be moving in. In the technology industry, leaders are supposed to be innovative thinkers possessing visions of a grand high-tech future. In the field of sales and marketing, there are the practical strategists who study consumer behavior and take advantage of this to earn profits for the company. In public service, leaders need to have integrity, honesty, and a desire to uphold the public good, no matter the cost.
A leader’s creative spirit becomes hugely important as well. Knowing that there are several ways to skin a cat helps in any kind of situation. If the market pie is not big enough for one’s big idea, then bake your own pie. This is where one’s vision comes to fruition. The effective leader thus needs to be an perceptive decision-maker, with the skill to go around various ‘good’ ideas in order to focus on the ‘one big thing.’
However, having all the qualities mentioned previously may not be enough. Oftentimes, the biggest factor that makes one a great leader is the way you treat your people. More probably than not, they’re the ones doing the dirty work. It is up to the leader to make sure these people continue to do their part, and by doing this, everyone benefits. The bottomline is: a leader’s success is measured by how successful his people have become.