The Importance of Leading Others Effectively

Notice the picture of George Washington above.

According to many historians and leadership experts,

President George Washington is one of the foremost examples of an

exemplary leader who finely demonstrated such important traits as character,

vision, an effective communicator, and competence.

Leadership is a fascinating subject for many people. The term conjures up a familiar scene of a powerful, heroic, triumphant individual with a group of followers returning home after winning a national championship or a war against the evil enemy. They all march through town surrounded by a crowd waving flags. An enthusiastic speaker may deliver an energetic speech, hands waving in the air, to thousands of people gathered in a plaza or stadium. The widespread fascination with leadership may be because of the impact that leadership has on everyone’s life.

It has been said about leadership that some are born leaders and others are made. Leadership is one of the biggest challenges that our society faces today. Our impressions and attitudes towards leadership are gained by observing other leaders, and from our own experiences. Most of us, when selected or elected into a leadership role for the first time, had no training and few leadership skills. We learned "from the school of hard knocks" the difficulties acquainted with leadership. In all, leadership is a process of getting things done through people and it is an art to be learned over time.

Leadership is liberating people to do what is needed in the best way possible. Being a leader is like an adventure because you must delegate and empower, then trust others to help you reach your goals. Leadership means responsibility and making sure the job gets done. If you lead, they will do the job. If you don't lead, they may expect you to do the job all by yourself. Also, another important part of leadership is mastering processes and skills such as making decisions and dealing with conflicts.

Countless books, articles, formal research, and debates have taken place on the subject of leadership and what ingredients go into producing a good leader and what does not. However, good leadership encompasses a few, but very important and essential traits. In this respect, consider the list of traits below. While other factors should be considered in the mix, it can be said that the five important traits below are the minimum requirement necessary for anyone wishing to lead others - no matter in what capacity. 

Leadership requires clear vision and taking responsibility. It is a critical leadership task. It establishes the framework for all other leadership activities. Taking responsibility includes the duties and obligations as being leader, as well as taking charge of your impact on other people and forming fair and positive relationships.

Leadership requires effective communication. Once the core values and vision of the crew and its members have been identified, they must be communicated. Communication is a process by which information is exchanged between individuals. Effective communication must be taught to every current and future leader. The ability to communicate properly is absolutely critical to the effectiveness of any organization. Many of the problems that plague organizations, families, and individuals can be traced to poor communication skills. Good communication is not simply a matter of getting your facts straight and delivering them accurately. It is also about common sense, and being willing to take responsibility for your impact on people's lives. In short, communication is without a doubt, the most important skill in life.

Leadership requires thoughtful planning and preparation. The most important aspect of leadership is planning and preparation. Besides effective communication, no other aspect of leadership counts for more. A well-organized, well-prepared and well-informed group will likely reach its goals, avoid accidents and have a positive experience. In planning and preparation, goal setting is a powerful tool that can yield strong returns in all areas of a person's life. At the simplest level, the process of setting goals and targets allows a person to choose a direction in life. By setting clearly defined goals, one can measure and take pride in the achievement of those goals. Research has shown that people who use goal-setting effectively suffer less from stress and anxiety, concentrate better, show more self-confidence, perform better, and are happier and more satisfied.

Leadership requires a highly developed sense of organization. With a solid foundation of vision and communication in place, a leader must develop the skill of organization. Being organized means to develop a structure, to arrange into a coherent functioning whole, and to arrange by systematic planning and united effort. Many good ideas, dreams, and visions go by the wayside because the leader or the group lacked the organizational discipline to make them happen. So much time, effort, and creative genius is wasted for the lack of "walking our talk."

Leadership requires the strive for "synergy." Synergism is the combined action of two or more people achieving an effort greater than that of which each individual is capable. It is the state in which the whole is more than the sum of its parts. In the evolution of leadership skill training, synergism is the final skill taught. Without it, an organization may appear successful on the surface, but lacks the energy to fully empower and engage members. 

Below is a printable 2-page handout featuring one of history's greatest leaders, George Washington, that I put together for a graduate class on leadership.

If you would like to download a PDF version of this flyer, click here