Self Help Tips: What are five traits that great leaders have in ...

Remember back in the day when a boss had a desk on a platform so that he/she would always be ?above? his/her employees? Or remember when it was common for an ?effective? boss or manager to lead by intimidation? Some of you are probably thinking, ?Remember? That?s the way my boss is right now!? Fortunately, for the most part, things have changed. In most companies, the mind set has shifted from one of leadership by intimidation to leadership by appreciation. If you are in management and want to become a respected leader, or if you are just curious how to pick out a great leader from a crowd, here are five major signs of a leader on the move.

The 5 signs of a great leader

A Leader is Constantly Self-Improving

We?ve all heard the saying, if you?re not growing, you?re dying. This couldn?t ring truer for a leader. Leaders spend a large chunk of their time on self-improvement, whether it be through seminars or through the multitudes of books they read on their craft, on their industry or on improving their team and their own self. Competency breeds confidence and confidence, in turn, breeds success. Reading books and attending seminars, however, does nothing if the principles being learned are not being used on a day-to-day basis.

A Leader Sets the Example

On this same note, if a leader is constantly pushing herself to become better, this feeling of empowerment and improvement will spread across to her team. A manager can talk all day long about becoming more effective or increasing productivity, but if his team feels that he isn?t doing anything much in the terms of increasing his own productivity and effectiveness, you can be pretty sure they won?t be feeling compelled to do much on improving themselves. A leader would not tell his team to go out and sell five houses this month when he hasn?t been able to close a sale in the past three months. A true leader would go out and do it first and raise the bar so that his team could challenge themselves to do better.

A Leader Helps Their Team Grow

Back in the day when managers ruled by intimidation, there was a sense of employees getting pushed down primarily so that this manager would never feel his job or security was being threatened. Things have changed. A leader knows that he or she cannot grow or learn by surrounding him/herself with a negative team that is stifled in their creativity and talent. On the contrary, a leader will surround himself with a team whose natural abilities and talents surpass his own. Leaders will push their people up and challenge them to shine in their abilities and become stronger where they may be weak.

Leaders Truly Care for Their Team

The 1950s manual to management probably had a guideline along the lines of, ?Business is business and should never become personalized. Keep your employees at arm?s length.? Nowadays, the saying should be that people don?t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Employees will easily quit a boss or manager, but they won?t easily quit a friend. This is not to say that you need to become everybody?s best friend, but know your employees, know that they have spouses and families that they more than likely put above their job and, most importantly, let them know that you look out for their well-being and appreciate the work they do.

Leaders Create a Positive Environment

On Mondays, how many times do you hear, ?Another day, another dollar?? Chances are, there is no leadership in your office. Granted, in the corporate world you may not come to work amidst a row of people holding their hands out for you to high-five, but a leader will create a work environment that makes people feel energized and not deflated. If your employees are going to be with you five days a week for at least forty hours, you must ensure that their environment is pleasing and positive.

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