When leadership is discussed, the concept of lead with decisiveness and purpose is often brought up. But what is this thing? Why does a leader need to lead with decisiveness and purpose? What can it mean to lead with such a skill? Why do some leaders use it while others prefer not to? Here are some things you may want to think about as you explore how to lead with decisiveness and purpose:
Image Source
Leadership is about perception. Sometimes perception means nothing at all. Other times it is based on logic and facts. In other cases, it is based on intuition. With a leader however, perception means everything.
You must be able to lead by teaching and showing. At times, a leader can lead by example. If an organization or group works well under the lead of a great teacher, then you may have an opportunity to lead by example. At other times you may be able to lead by convincing your followers that you can be trusted to lead.
Know your own strengths and weaknesses. Leaders are human. At times, they have flaws just like anyone else. At other times, they know they have strengths that other people do not realize. Learn to recognize your own gifts so that you can lead with confidence and effectiveness.
Be positive. Sometimes negativity can be destructive. Leaders sometimes get wrapped up in being negative. However, negative energy cannot run a successful organization or team. Instead of wallowing in negativity, find ways to embrace it. Sometimes this involves simply saying, "It's going to be OK", or "That will be OK."
Inspire leadership. In order to lead with effectiveness, a leader must inspire his or her followers. The best leaders have a way of inspiring their people to be great. Inspiration can come from many different sources, but a good leader must figure out what is special to his or her group and design a plan to share with his or her followers to help them reach their goals.
Lead with integrity. Leaders must be honest and make sure that they do not try to get people to do things they do not want to do. If a leader tries to manipulate members to do something they do not agree with, that is unethical behavior. A leader must be honest with their followers if they want to lead with integrity.
Although these traits are helpful, they are not all that lead leaders must have. They can build upon these values and use them in different situations. Once a leader learns how to lead with effectiveness, decisiveness, and honesty, he or she can lead with efficacy, integrity, and kindness. If you want to lead with effectiveness, integrity, and kindness, then it is time for you to take the time to learn about these three qualities so that you can become a leader that others look up to and admire.
Effective leaders realize that being able to share their vision with others is crucial to the success of their group. They also know that leaders who are able to speak honestly, effectively, and compassionately to their followers are likely to make the right decisions for the group. Additionally, effective leaders make decisions that will benefit their followers, which makes them feel important. These leaders also are honest with their followers so that they can fulfill their vision.
When leaders are honest with their followers, members trust them and want to follow them. This allows these leaders to show integrity and make good decisions. In addition, these leaders show their appreciation when members follow them and help them achieve their goals. However, if you want to be an effective leader, you must realize that you cannot just lead by telling your followers what you want them to do. You must create plans to implement your vision and make sure that your plan is well-planned, comprehensive, and realistic.
Leaders must know their strengths and weaknesses so that they can plan a realistic strategy to use both when necessary. While having weaknesses is something to be expected, leaders should not let their strengths go to waste. For instance, an organization may have several successful leaders, but if the leader is not very good at delegating tasks and is not very good at leading, this team may be ineffective at achieving its purpose. So in order to lead with purpose, you need to be very good at delegating tasks and leading from the other person's point of view.
Image Source
There is nothing more frustrating than being in a position of leadership and knowing that you do not know what to do. But being in a position of leadership and not being effective at achieving your purpose is even more disheartening. However, knowing your strengths and weaknesses will not just make you a better leader, but it will also make you a better leader because you will be more effective at leading from the knowledge that you already possess. Furthermore, leaders must take time out to assess how they are doing and why they are not achieving their purpose. Just doing the necessary exercises and knowing your strengths will help you stay focused on your goal.