-
Good leadership skills are reflected in a leader's ability to set goals. A good leader not only possesses background knowledge related to the task for which she is responsible, but she also has an awareness of what the ultimate outcome should be. A leader should set goals for herself and model the actions necessary for reaching her goal. These goals should include her personal leadership strategy.
Additionally, a good leader communicates the outcome of the task to each team member as well each member's own role in accomplishing the objective. She also meets with her entire team as a whole, assuring that everyone is aware of the objective and how their roles effect the ultimate outcome.
Finally, the leader shares her own goals and instructs each team member to devise a list of personal goals related to their responsibility in the task. She will make sure that the goals are acceptable and maintain a record of her team member's list of goals in order to observe their progress effectively. - An effective leader observes the progress of her team members regularly. Observational skills include listening to and recording her team's concerns, monitoring each team member's actions and determining whether their actions reflect their goals. She is also aware of the progress of the task and knows whether the task or tasks will be completed at the necessary time. Good leaders are seen observing their team members. If the team is aware that their progress is monitored, then they will be more likely to stay on task and accomplish their goals successfully.
- Good leaders recognize when their team members have accomplished a particular goal or have done something correctly. They react quickly and reward the successful team member in a way that the person will feel a sense of personal pride. Because good leaders are respected, a simple pat on the back or "Good job!" can be sufficient. Regardless of the means a leader uses to reward individual successes, the most important element of recognition is that it is done as soon as the leader is made aware of the accomplishment.
- By quickly reprimanding a team member who has made a mistake, a good leader can redirect negative behavior to positive behavior. However, the same approach that a leader uses to reward good behavior should be used to reprimand poor behavior. This means that the same amount of attention that is given to positive outcomes should be given to negative outcomes. Good leadership skills include the ability to remain focused on the completion of a task. Spending an excess amount of time focused on mistakes will negatively effect the outcome of an entire project.
- Good leadership skills include the ability to encourage team members to solve problems and to perform beyond the minimal expectations. Good leaders consider those they are leading not as subordinates, but as equals. They respect each person's individual personalities and treat them accordingly. Good leaders are also confident in their own abilities as well as the abilities of team members to effectively and efficiently produce desired results.
