How to Be a Successful Leader

Leadership skills are developed over time, and the strongest leaders strive for constant improvement.

For centuries, the most successful leaders from across the globe have showcased their abilities to capture attention, motivate individuals and inspire action. Visionaries like George Washington, Andrew Carnegie, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates have demonstrated a powerful ability to lead others and drive people to be the best version of themselves. Leadership appears in many forms and on many scales. While there is no secret formula one can follow to instantly transform into a leader, there is a host of established techniques that can help individuals from any background develop the traits and behaviors seen in history's most successful leaders.

Instructions

1. 

   The strongest leaders are personable, open and accessible.

   Connect with people. Leaders command the trust, respect and admiration of others, and gaining this confidence requires leaders to connect and collaborate with the people around them. Truly connecting with people requires mutual exchange of ideas, feelings and information. Ask your colleagues or teammates about themselves and offer something about yourself in return. Harvard Business School professor and social psychologist Amy Cuddy asserts that connecting and communicating with others is a much more effective leadership tactic than attempting to impose your will upon them.

2. 

   Show your dedication and set an example for others by adhering to your own directions.

   Embody the traits you wish to see in others. The age old adage "don't just talk the talk, walk the walk" has survived generations because it holds true in every forum. Maintain consistency between what you ask of others and how you behave to capture the confidence of your followers and minimize the perceived gap between you and them. If you tell others to pursue cost savings in the workplace, do not take your fellow managers out to expensive lunches on the company's dime. Doing so will destroy your credibility and weaken the trust your subordinates have in you.

3. 

   Reaching out to others fosters trust and can open the door to helpful new ideas and insights.

   Ask for help when you need it. No leader, no matter how successful or powerful, has all the answers. The ability to ask for guidance or assistance is not a sign of weakness, and has the power to endear you to your colleagues. Leaders who remain humble and reach out to others create the opportunity to forge valuable, long-term partnerships and working relationships.

4. 

   Share your vision and allow others to help achieve your collective goals.

   Empower the people around you. One of the greatest misconceptions about leadership is that the one who retains the most individual power is the one with the most influence. An overbearing executive with this type of positional power may have a title that commands the obedience of her subordinates, but leaders with the respect and trust of their colleagues wield the greatest influence. This personal power sprouts from leaders who show confidence in the ability of others, delegate important tasks and decisions and recognize those who consistently perform well.

Tips & Warnings

• No leadership style is perfect for every situation or audience. Understand your context to maximize your chances of success.

• Establishing trust and credibility takes time. Be patient and be consistent.

References

• BNET: Leadership Is About Connecting, Not Dominating
• BNET: Collaborative Leadership: Why It's A Winning Strategy
• BNET: How to Empower Employees with the Illusion of Control