The day your people stop bringing you problems is the day you have stopped leading them.  They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded that you do not care.  Either case is a failure of leadership.     ~ General Colin Powell

Leadership is the act of managing or coordinating the efforts of a group of people in order to achieve a common goal.  Effective leadership is essential to organizational success.  Effective leaders are strong and forceful while at the same time humble, compassionate, and empathetic.  They are decisive not impulsive.  They can delegate authority without feeling diminished.  They provide support, encouragement, and feedback in positive and constructive ways.  They seek consistency over time by maintaining strong ethical guidelines for decision making.

We recently observed a manager whose primary focus was pleasing her boss.  She over-managed her subordinates by participating in every decision, no matter how insignificant.  The result was that her subordinates stopped making decisions without consulting her.  Productivity declined.  The environment of fear undermined the ability of her subordinates to be open and honest.  The effectiveness of this manager’s leadership was marginalized by her management style.

Effective leaders embrace proven leadership realities.  First, they acknowledge that they do not have all the answers.  While leaders are ultimately accountable for the results of their team, they wisely admit their limitations and solicit input from their subordinates.  Confident leaders realize that the solutions to organizational problems can come from those who deal with the problems first hand.  Far from appearing weak, leaders who empower their people create working relationships based on trust and positive results.

Second, effective leaders constantly seek dissenting opinions.  They realize that collaboration and open disagreement, while stressful and sometimes chaotic, can be healthy for the team.  Effective leaders do not penalize those who disagree.  Instead, effective managers treat team members with respect and solicit alternative viewpoints that help expose potential blind spots.

Third, effective leaders acknowledge the need to be humble.  They openly seek new solutions to old problems.  By suppressing their own ego they encourage team members to take risks.  The result is fresh ideas and more creative input from everyone.

Finally, effective leaders excel in creating a working environment that supports and encourages everyone.  They value the truth above all.  By placing the organizational goals above the personalities of those responsible for results, effective leaders ensure the success of the team.  As a result, those being led develop more confidence, acquire higher skills, and achieve personal satisfaction.

Developing effective leadership skills is a continuum.  It has a beginning with no end.  The risks are high, the rewards even higher. 

This article is provided as general information and is not intended to substitute for legal or other professional advice.