Leadership is defined as being able to direct and command others to do what is expected of them to accomplish. A leader should be able to plan, organize, delegate and control. With these four basic attributes of managing people it will help and be a lot easier for a good leader to succeed. Full knowledge of the job makes a good leader more respectable and trustworthy in the eyes of his subordinates, colleagues and superior/s. It will be difficult for a leader to have the work done if he doesn't know the job. He should be able to lead through example.
The four basic characteristics of a good leader are:
1. Planning - this means that a leader should able to have answers to the following questions: "What has to be done?" "Who has to do it?" "Why should this be done?" "When should this be done?"
2. Organizing - once the four questions on planning have been answered then the final question to answer is "How should it be done?" In this second attribute the leader should be able to prepare all the necessary materials, program or schedule in order to be ready for the next step.
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4. Control and Measurement - being able to ensure that the task is done according to the set plan where the five questions were accomplished without flaws.
Things to remember about leading people through example;
1. Be a role model to your subordinate and others.
2. Always be consistent and firm when leading people. Use flexibility with caution.
3. Be fair and balance with your decision.
4. Not all bad behavior can be summoned to bad attitude. A person's behavior varies according to individual impulses sent to the brain and has a physical reaction to the behavior. An attitude is an ingrained or molded behavior. (Say for example, a subordinate suddenly became rude to the supervisor and after talking to the subordinate, it was revealed that she was rude because the supervisor forgot to invite her to the supervisor's birthday party. This is an example of bad behavior but not considered bad attitude since the subordinate's behavior was temporary and changed after airing out her sentiments.)
5. Avoid listening to second hand information from others about your colleague or subordinate. This can lead to or create mistrust and wrongful judgment of others.
6. Create harmonious relationship with your subordinate
7. Two-way communication is very important. Listen and be attentive to subordinate's opinion.
8. Try to empower your subordinate.
9. Be self motivated and always project positive attitude towards work with your subordinate
10. Never demean subordinates in the eyes of others.
The basic attributes of a good leader is merely being able to answer the five questions in this article such as: What is the job to be done? Who are the people that will be assigned to do the job? Why this job need to be done? When is this job need to be done? How should this job be done?.Once the five questions were answered and have an idea about the things to remember about leadership then everything is just a matter of implementing or practicing them. These steps can also be applied on one's daily way of life at home, in school, community and other places where a person is asked to lead.
Always remember that a person cannot be a good leader without a follower and a leader is only as good as the people he leads.
Character Traits of a Good Leader