What makes a leader? A leader is a person who directs or who is in charge of others. Leadership is a blend of talents, qualities and skills that a leader uses to influence people. Leaders are not all the same!!!! At some time in your life, by choice or otherwise, you will find yourself in a position where leadership is demanded – your spoken words and actions will become your credibility. You are already a leader, where are you leading?

The Characteristics of Leadership Leaders are people who aren’t afraid to give power and authority to others and are people who have the power and the drive to make something happen. There are 7 characteristics of leadership that most successful leaders have and use. A sense of vision Willing to act Make good decisions Handle conflict Avoid pitfalls Motivate Follow

One One: Sense of Vision The ability to see more than just the obvious. They can focus on what really matters because they see the big picture Do not only picture they way things should be, but also are a guiding light that helps direct decisions and actions toward that vision.

Two Two: A leader is willing to act Leaders are doers, they take action. They believe in getting the job done and doing it well. After all the talking, analyzing and pondering – a leader is the one that says to the rest of the group “OK, let’s get started and do something now!”

Three Three: A leader makes good decisions A good leaders decisions show intelligence but they should also show a sense of responsibility. A leaders decisions should reflect good ethics and good communication. Consider the following questions: Am I knowledgeable about the issues and the people involved? Am I making decisions in the correct order? Am I aware of the risks involved?

Four Four: A leader can handle conflict Of all the qualities of a leader, none is more important than being able to work harmoniously with people. Problems will always arise, a good leader knows how to handle conflict. A good leader also recognizes the benefits of diversity in a group and that differences of opinions are very helpful when working to find a solution to a problem or new ideas. You must be able to stay calm and know how to calm others when conflict arises.

Five Five – A leader works to avoid pitfalls A good leader looks for potential problems ahead of time so they can stop it before it gets started. Common Pitfalls Being Afraid to Fail – failure can lead to success Not Paying Attention to Details – details matter! Forgetting People and the Original Objectives – stay on track and care for your followers Not Listening to Others – be open-minded

Six Six: A leader knows how to motivate To motivate means to inspire either yourself or others (or both) to act. Motivation is a personal thing – you must know your group well enough to know what will motivate them. In the end, motivation occurs as a result of the people in your group trusting you enough to follow your advice.

Seven Seven – A leader knows when to follow. A good leader is able to recognize the strengths and abilities of the others in their group and to utilize those skills and abilities. A good leader knows how to delegate tasks. A good leader knows when to allow someone who is knowledgeable take a leadership role and step back.