Introduction
The leader is a coveted position for which many individuals strive. However, it is not always apparent what makes someone fit for such a role as there have been many different strategies for achieving one’s goals. There is some advice one can follow to achieve the same level of success in this area, which is outlined in Kouzes and Posner (2003). The purpose of this paper is to describe six lessons to becoming a good leader.
The Lessons
First of all, it is vital for the leader to focus on the future. If an individual is the head of an organization, they should be able to “imagine the attractive opportunities that are in store when they and their constituents arrive at a distant destination”. This will help inspire their employees as they will know towards which they are working. Secondly, leaders have to understand that they cannot achieve their goals on their own. These rules will help create a sense of unity within the organization.
Thirdly, the people occupying the highest position need to lead by example. The fourth lesson would entail learning that a leader always needs to consider their credibility. The employees need to have a role model for the way one needs to work to achieve one’s goals. It is important to remember that “titles may be granted, but leadership is earned”. If the head of a company or an organization does not check the requirements that they ask of their workers, they will lose their position.
The fifth lesson asks the leaders to continue learning despite reaching the top of the hierarchy. There is always room to grow, and a willingness to continue improving one’s skills can be a good example for the employees. It is essential for leaders “to anticipate, respond to, and continually learn from the stream of emerging challenges to organizational prosperity”. Lastly, it is important to remember that overcoming obstacles helps achieve an organization’s success.
Conclusion
It is not always clear what makes a good leader, as there are many different strategies one can employ. This paper outlines six important lessons to becoming a good head of a company. Most of them focus on being a good example to the employees and continuing the learning process. These rules will help create unity within the organization, which will aid in working towards the common goals.
References
Kouzes, J.M., Posner, B.Z. Excerpt from – The five practices of exemplary leadership. Pfeiffer: New York; 2003.
Keating, L.A., Haslin, P.A., Ashford, S.J. Good leaders are good learners. Harvard Business Review [Internet]. 2016. Web.