How to become a leader?
Is it possible to cultivate a leader, or is it an innate talent? Is it possible to learn this and acquire these skills on your own without resorting to expensive courses?
These issues always become an urgent topic for discussion and debate. My answer is yes, if you have the desire, inspiration and perseverance. If you dream of doing something important, inspiring and motivating people, or if you have the willpower to achieve any goals, this task is within your power.
To begin with, it is necessary to understand what leadership is in general. Leadership is the ability to awaken in people the dream they will approach, to “breathe” the energy they need to move. Leadership means the ability to influence individuals and social groups, labor collectives, to direct their efforts to achieve the goals of the organization, firm, enterprise.
There are certain criteria for assessing leadership:
1. Innate desire to lead. Being a leader means pointing the way for others – the best, the shortest, the safest. The leader not only guides and leads his followers, but also seeks to lead them.
2. Motivation of the championship. In order to become a leader, it is not enough to strive to be the first. The championship provides better life results than others, which is the result of human efforts, which demonstrate his professionalism, competence, abilities, talents and other outstanding qualities.
3. Influence. After all, to become a leader and lead people, you need to be an influential person. And this applies not only to people who are endowed with a certain power, but also to those who are supported from the outside, who have gained this support on their own, their authority.
4. Immersion and love for their business. A leader is able to withstand the boundary between his vocation and various hobbies. For a leader, the motive of activity corresponds to the activity itself.
5. Competence and creativity. A leader is a person who is well versed in their work and uses a creative approach to solving problems and situations.
6. Psychological reliability – the ability to maintain the desired level of “I want”, “I can” and “I have to” in different, especially stressful, life situations.
7. Adequate self-esteem and self-regulation. Leaders in most cases combine a high level of aspirations, high self-esteem combined with high demands on themselves and everything related to group values and goals.
8. Self-improvement. This is probably one of the most important criteria. A true leader always wants to learn, gain experience, improve their skills and abilities.
What are the criteria for identifying a leader? A leader is a person who:
– able to make responsible and complex decisions, ready to take proper responsibility for them;
– worries about the common good and benefit of people, not about personal gain;
– active, proactive and energetic in solving the tasks of the whole group;
– able to lead people on a completely voluntary basis;
– is able to admit mistakes and can take responsibility for defeats;
– self-confident, knows his strengths and weaknesses and can use them correctly;
– has charisma, natural strength of influence and sociable skills;
– is interested in the interests of the group, has their trust and strong authority;
– is able to safely and creatively go beyond the rules and regulations.
If you do not have all these skills, character traits – do not despair. Any skill can be nurtured in yourself. The main thing is to have the desire to achieve this goal and strong willpower.
Here are some practical tips to develop leadership skills:
– learn to be proactive, boldly manage your life;
– set goals and set priorities in achieving them;
– be responsible and consistent in your actions, be responsible for your words and deeds;
– stop being afraid of the new, get out of your comfort zone and try to do something new every day;
– communicate more, listen more carefully and actively communicate with new people;
– learn to empathize, understand the interests and needs of others, and try to find a compromise solution to controversial issues;
– learn something new every day and do not forget to try it in practice, improve yourself and your skills, get interesting and useful information;
– Enjoy what you do and enjoy your work.
If you are interested in what level of communication and organizational skills you have, you can check it yourself. To do this, you need a blank sheet of paper, a pencil and a few minutes of silence. Be focused and honest to get a quality result. Wish you success!
Research of communicative and organizational abilities
Answer each question “yes” or “no”
1. Do you have a desire to study people and meet different people?
2. Do you like to do community service?
3. How long have you been bothered by the feeling of resentment inflicted on you by one of your comrades?
4. Is it always difficult for you to navigate in a critical situation?
5. Do you have many friends with whom you constantly communicate?
6. How often do you manage to persuade most of your peers to accept your opinion?
7. Is it true that it is more pleasant and easier for you to spend time with books or any other activity than with people?
8. If there are obstacles in the implementation of your intentions, is it easy for you to give up your intentions?
9. Is it easy for you to connect with people who are older than you?
10. Do you like to come up with or organize different games and entertainment with your friends?
11. Is it difficult for you to join new companies (teams)?
12. How often do you postpone things that need to be done today?
13. Is it easy for you to establish contacts and communicate with strangers?
14. Do you want your peers to act according to your opinion?
15. Is it difficult for you to get used to the new team?
16. Is it true that you do not have conflicts with comrades because they do not fulfill their promises, obligations, responsibilities?
17. Do you want to meet and talk to a new person on occasion?
18. How often do you take the initiative in solving important cases?
19. Are you annoyed by the people around you and do you want to be alone?
20. Is it true that you are poorly oriented in an unfamiliar environment?
21. Do you like to be among people all the time?
22. Do you get annoyed if you can’t finish what you started?
23. Do you feel dissatisfied if you have to take the initiative to meet a new person?
24. Is it true that you get tired of frequent communication with friends?
25. Do you like to participate in team games?
26. How often do you take the initiative in addressing issues that affect the interests of your peers?
27. Is it true that you feel insecure among strangers?
28. Is it true that you rarely try to prove yourself right?
29. Do you think that it is not difficult for you to revive a little-known group?
30. Do you take part in community service at school (in school, at work)?
31. Do you want to limit the circle of your acquaintances?
32. Is it true that you do not seek to defend your opinion or decision, if it was not immediately adopted by comrades?
33. Do you feel at ease when you get into an unfamiliar team?
34. Are you willing to start organizing various events for your friends?
35. Is it true that you do not feel confident and calm enough when you have to say something to a large group of people?
36. How often are you late for business meetings, dates?
37. Is it true that you have many friends?
38. How often do you find yourself in the spotlight of your peers?
39. How often are you anxious and uncomfortable when communicating with strangers?
40. Is it true that you do not feel very confident in the company of a large group of his comrades?
The key to the test
Communicative tendencies determine the key answers to the following questions:
(+) Yes 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37
(-) No 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, 35, 39
Organizational tendencies determine the key answers to the following questions
(+) Yes 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38
(-) No 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40
Processing of test results
The maximum number of points separately for each parameter is 20. Points are calculated separately for communicative and organizational tendencies. For each answer “yes” or “no” for statements that coincide with those specified in the key separately for the respective inclinations, one point is assigned.
Levels of communicative and organizational tendencies
The sum of points 1-4 indicates a low level of communication and organizational tendencies.
The sum of scores 5-8 indicates a communicative and organizational tendency at a level below average. Such people do not seek to communicate, prefer to spend time alone with themselves. In a new company or team feel awkward. Experiencing difficulties in establishing contact with people. They do not defend their opinion, they have a hard time with insults. Rarely show initiative, avoid making independent decisions.
The sum of points 9-12 characterizes the average level of manifestation of communicative and organizational tendencies. Such individuals seek contact with people, defend their own, but the potential of their tendencies is not very stable. Further educational work on formation and development is required
these personality qualities.
The sum of scores 13-16 indicates a high level of manifestation of communicative and organizational tendencies of the subjects. People do not get lost in new circumstances, quickly find friends, seek to expand the circle of their acquaintances, help relatives and friends, take the initiative in communication, are able to make decisions in difficult, unusual situations.
The sum of points 17-20 – the highest level of communicative and organizational tendencies. This indicates that such people have a need for communication and organizational activities. They orient themselves quickly in difficult situations. Behave casually in the new team. Initiative. Make independent decisions. They defend their opinion and seek to make their decisions. They like to organize games, various events. Persistent and inspired in activities.
Yana POLIANSKA, Director of “Predstavnytstvo Prydniprovia”