Actually, “characteristics of a good leader” is a hot and interested topic in management areas. No matter it is global leadership, corporate leadership or even a team leadership, the basic traits of a good leader are necessary and ordinary. Some additional positive characteristics may be required, just depending on their field of work or circumstance.
Firstly, the essential characteristic of a good leader is self leadership, it is one of the essential characteristics and also is probably the most important characteristic of an efficient leader. It indicates that when a leader guides himself towards excellence, he will able to lead his followers on the same time as well. Beside that is personal leadership, personal leadership is the desire of one to take charge of his own life. Personal leadership is also about always becoming a good follower of his own principles. It is motivational leadership and all leaders must have. Thus, confidence is required and it automates confidence to be another characteristic. A leader must believes his own abilities, unless he ensures that he can not to guide his team effectively or actually he has no abilities to guide a team. The team members will be highly motivated to do a good job when the leader is confident in his or her abilities and themselves at the same time. So that, enthusiastic will be another characteristic. Why say so? Because, if the good leader is enthusiastic about his work, cause and also his role of leader, the leader will able to guide his team effectively. A leader needs to be a source of inspiration and to be a motivator to his team members. Even though the responsibilities and roles of a leader may be different, but all kinds of leader should not be afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty.
In addition, a leader must ability to think and analyse, all leaders must able to analyse problem of source, take corrective action to solve problems and move on to the next challenge. That is why an analytic mind is needed. A good leader is necessary to be knowledgeable about his field of work, because knowledgeable leader will be able to guide and solve problems when he is thorough with his field of work. This is also an important characteristic for leadership. Another characteristic of a leader is strategic leadership, this is an important leadership skill. It includes planning and organizing of activities allotment of tasks and effective time management. A good strategic leadership can influence the performance of leader. To lead a team, the leader must be trustworthy. Actually, a true leader cannot exist if he or she does not get the trust of followers. It means that honesty and integrity are necessary. Without integrity and honesty, followers will feel that they must not follow the leader. As a good leader, they must have good practices. So, trustworthiness is an essential characteristic, all leaders should based on the trust of other people. Furthermore, being congruent will become a characteristic of a leader. A leader who wants to guide his followers, he has to obtain the trust of followers first. Congruency means all your thoughts, words and actions are entirely aligned. A leader should be able to convince his followers successfully and make his followers understand what their have to change.
Moreover, a good leader must have good attitude, even in the worst of situations. He should instill the same on his followers by appropriate motivation or solving problem techniques. Attitude of a leader is a very important determinant in the successful overcoming of leadership challenges. The last essential characteristic of leader is respect. It is necessary and it must be mutual, respect must not be restricted only from the followers to the leader. All team members should be respected, if the leader sets an example for this, all the team members will follow undoubtedly. This must be a vital and important characteristic of a strong leader.
In conclusion, these characteristic which just described are essential for a good leader. They can be native traits but they can also be developed and strengthened. No matter these characteristics are natural or developed, a good leader must always ensure to make the best of these traits and to achieve excellence. A good leader does not consider himself is the boss when he is working. A leader needs rather to view him as part of the team, equal to all other group members. Leaders should consider themselves as part of the team to obtain the respect of their team members. Followers will be more willing to help the leader and try to give the best as they have, they will have a sense that the team is one and everyone is in together.