How to become a great leader
Inspiring people to work towards a common goal is never easy. If you find that you are struggling to do so, then you may have to reconsider the way you think about leadership. In doing so, you will become the type of person which others will willingly follow.
1.Understand that leadership is a honor and a privilege not a right
By understanding this, you may feel more inclined to work hard to prove yourself worthy of the position. This will suggest to your subordinates that you are a humble person worthy of their respect and obedience.
2. Understand that leadership has nothing to do with possession or power and everything to do with influence
To be a great leader, you need to be able to influence other people. According to Pretorius, you can only do this is by achieving the goals which you set as the leader and by subscribing to the values which you expect others to follow.
This will suggest to others that you are a genuine and trustworthy person. Consequently, they will be more inclined to subscribe to your influence.
3. Understand that there is a difference between leadership and management
According to Pretorius, there is a difference between leadership and management.
Leadership is the ability to motivate, inspire, and empower people while management is the ability to control and organise them in such a way so as to enable them to achieve their goals and those of the organisation as a whole. To be an effective leader you need to strike a balance between the two.
4. Understand that there is no substitute for developing your own unique leadership approach .
5. Understand the value of becoming a servant leader
A servant leader is someone who shows a genuine concern for the people they lead. These types of leaders, try to help each of their subordinates achieve their full potential.
If your subordinates see that you have their best interests at heart then they will be more motivated to achieve the goals which you have set for the organisation as a whole.
This information was provided by former Managing Director of Toyota SA Marketing and former Chief Executive Officer of McCarthy Retail Limited Brand Pretorius. Pretorius adapted the information from his book published by Tafelberg an imprint of NB publishers.
