How to Be a Good Leader
According to "What Makes a Good Leader" by the Harvard Business School Bulletin, there are born leaders, but many people possess the requisite characteristics to develop into a good leader. Good leaders have character and integrity. They are able to adapt to different situations and instill confidence in others. They do not bark orders and expect people to follow them. A good leader must have passion for what he does and that passion must spill over into the hearts and minds of the leader's subordinates.
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Instructions
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Study the work and accomplishments of history's great leaders. Begin your research with leaders you respect, such as Martin Luther King Jr. or Abraham Lincoln. Diversify your research and analyze other historical leaders whose ideologies or accomplishments contrast with your own traits and values. Emulate leaders whose style and traits seem to resonate with your personal value system.
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Develop strong communication skills. Study books about effective communication and take formal coursework as necessary. According to "What Makes a Good Leader," communication is critical to a leader's ultimate success. You must know your audience and understand how to appeal to both logic and emotion when communicating information.
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Get to know the people you work with. Leaders, by definition, manage and oversee other people. The people you supervise comprise your "team." Each member of your team has certain traits, both positive and negative. By getting to know the people you work with, you can discover what each person is good at and then think about where that person will be the most effective.
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Set goals but also plan for contingencies. Give credit when applicable, but do not be afraid to deliver hard truths or admit that you made a mistake. Leaders have integrity. People rely on them and trust them. Impose your integrity on your coworkers by carefully planning courses of action, being honest and staying focused.
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Think creatively and stay informed. Leaders need to have as many facts as they can in order to make critical decisions. They must also remain abreast of changes or potential problems so that they can remain flexible and change direction as necessary.
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