Traits of a good Leader

Leadership is the result of multiple factors, one of which is influencing. Leaders understand
that a primary part of their job is to influence others towards a desired outcome. Influencing in a
capsule, referred as empowering others to achieve their goals, bringing out the best in people,
putting their needs ahead of your own, and helping them to develop.
The true meaning of inspiration is the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel
something, especially to do something creative but for a leader this definition may not be same.
The inspirational leader feels passionate about the vision and mission of the organization; they
listen to the people in the organization and gives them want they want within their capabilities.
Leaders are motivated that they can successfully lead a group and that they are able to
approach the group they are leading with good manners. A leader can become a motivator
when he harmonize and match the subordinate needs with the organizational needs,
encouraging individuals to get involved in planning and important issues, using appreciation and
reward as key motivators and the most important thing i.e. being self- motivated.
Leaders are high achievers. They are often marked, by a strong motive to achieve. They have
a strong drive, that what separate them from others. Emotional intelligent is one of the traits that
an achiever possess.
Empathy is the skill of understanding and recognizing others' feelings and perspectives. To
enhance engagement, many leaders are told they need to be more empathetic. The main
quality of these leaders is that they are good with “soft skills”. Soft skills are a combination
of people skills, social skills, communication skills, character traits, attitudes, career attribute,
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social intelligence and emotional intelligence.
A leader act as a guide by showing his or her employees a specified path towards achieving the
organizational goal. The quality of being flexible, responsive and strategic help them to become
a guide.
A leader must be Goal-oriented. It is one of the salient feature of a leader, as they have to give
results to the organization and for that, they must be goal oriented.  A workplace with tight
deadlines can benefit from this trait of leaders.
A mentor is a trusted counselor or guide, a tutor, a coach. A mentor cares more about helping
others than getting credit. A mentor seeks to make the world better through.
Success-driven leaders are able to instill purpose in the workplace, rally their team behind a
cause, and drive performance at their companies.
A committed leader sees all promises, pledges, and agreements they commit to as binding.
A focused individual who can inspire his team to reach organizational goals is a visionary
business leader.
An effective leader is a person with a passion for a cause that is larger than they are. An
effective leader combines smart business practices as well as intelligent crafting of
infrastructure. 
An optimistic leader makes life very easy for the people around them. Their positivity,
heightens the enthusiasm of the team, and inspires them.
Active leaders understand the importance of being genuinely concerned about their
employees. They do not treat their workers as a means to an end, but as valuable individuals
who are responsible for the success of the company.

What makes an inspiring leader?

Truly said when employees are not just engaged, but inspired, that is when organizations see
real breakthroughs. Employees who are inspired, adds to the organization by being resourceful
and help other people in the organization to achieve greater heights, by making them inspired
too.
You only need one truly “inspiring” attribute
In the survey, a list of 33 traits were found that help leaders in these four areas: developing
inner resources, connecting with others, setting the tone, and leading the team. They found that
one of the attribute nearly double the chance of the leader being an inspirational leader i.e.
centeredness. This is a state of mindfulness that enables leaders to remain calm under stress,
empathize, listen deeply, and remain present.
Your key strength has to match how your organization creates value
Effective leadership is not generic. A leader must have a profile that could match the company’s
goals. For example, an organization that makes its money out-marketing the competition isn’t
likely to be inspired by a leader whose best talent is cost management.
You have to behave differently if you want your employees to do so
Even with a clear idea of the company’s goals and paths, leaders need to develop new ways of
working. We found that leaders who both inspire people and generate results find ways to make
the established working environment more flexible for the employees.

Notable instances of Inspirational leaders

When Paul O’Neill became CEO of Alcoa in 1987, he knew that he needed to focus the
company on workplace safety. To show his commitment to the goal, he required that he be
notified of all safety incidents within 24 hours. Safety improved dramatically, to the point where
Alcoa’s worker injury rate fell to 5% of the US average.

When Howard Schultz returned to Starbucks as CEO after a nearly eight-year hiatus, he
realized that Starbucks’s unique customer-focused coffee experience was now in the back seat.
In the front seat were automation and diversification, both implemented in pursuit of throughput
and growth. Schultz took swift action to change the company’s direction; he even shut down
7,100 US stores for three hours on February 26, 2008, to retrain the baristas in the art of making
espresso. In this highly symbolic move, he left no doubt about his intentions—and about what
he thought; it would take to make Starbucks great again.

When Alan Mulally came to Ford in 2006 to help turn around the business, he took bold actions
to change the way they company operated. In one highly visible moment, he applauded Mark
Fields (who would eventually become his successor) for admitting to a failure in an executive
meeting. That was unheard-of at Ford, and it set the tone for the open and honest
communications required for a new culture at the company.

The Three P’s

Person
A position of office is no guarantee of leadership but it helps in the sense that a
leadership position usually commands a listening ear from its people and that is a
good starting point for anyone who desires to be a leader.
A leader by its meaning is one who goes first and leads by example, so that others
are motivated to follow him. This is a basic requirement. To be a leader, a person
must have a deep-rooted commitment to the goal that he will strive to achieve it
even if nobody follows him!

Purpose
A leader must have personal vision i.e. he must have ability to visualize the goals of the
organisation as an accomplished fact or already achieved goal. He must realize that the goal
cannot be achieved alone, but with the help of others.
The leader must integrate the organization's goal with his followers’ personal goals and then
communicates this goal in such a way that the goal becomes a common goal.

People
To be a leader, one must have followers. To have followers, one must have their trust. When
people are convinced of your love for them and that you always have their interests upon your
heart, they trust you and they will follow you up the highest mountain and into the deepest sea.
14 LEADERSHIP TRENDS THAT WILL SHAPE
ORGANIZATIONS IN 2018
1. Encouraging All Team Members to Be Brand Ambassadors
Leaders today understand that every employee is an opportunity to provide market insights into
the quality and standards of organization. Every employee can become an ambassador with the
help of social media particularly LinkedIn.

2. Investing In Human Capital Development

By helping, the employees to thrive in all areas of their lives, different from work, will create
more engaged, resourceful and happier employees.

3. Increasing Emphasis on Empathetic Leadership

The ability to understand, relate to and be sensitive to employees, colleagues and communities
will be of most importance and the value of empathetic leadership will be at its peak in 2018.

4. Focusing On Individual Growth

It is a high time that organization should give emphasis on the growth of each employee, in
order to meet the ever-changing needs of their environment.

5. Leading by Actions and Examples

Leaders will begin to understand they need to not only hold their teams accountable for proper
behavior, but hold themselves accountable as well.

6. Turning Organizations into a Truly Customer-Centric Business

Customers are no longer loyal to a brand; they are loyal to experiences that work for them. With
robust customer feedback mechanisms and reporting, there is simply no excuse for not
adapting to what customers really want today.

7. Embracing 'Work-Life Blend'

In 2018, companies will recognize that work-life blend is key. It is necessary create jobs and
schedules that allow staff to better blend their work and lives to reduce burnout and increase
output.

8. Paying Attention to Internal Factors That Are In Their Control

In 2018, the winners will be those who redirect their attention to what is happening inside their
organizations, as focusing on what is in their control will make their decision better.

9. Taking Workplace Sexual Harassment More Seriously

More employers will be less tolerant of sexual harassment in the workplace and will work to deal
with claims more seriously to set the tone for their organization.

10. Taking a Stand on Social and Political Issues

In 2018, we will see a big emphasis on the highest-level executives developing their ability to be
ambassadors for the values of their companies.

11. Proactively Elevating and Retaining Women Leaders

 One of the major leadership/management issues for 2018 will likely involve proactive efforts to
elevate or retain women leaders. 

12. Implementing Agile Talent

With the rise in freelancers and remote work, companies will be moving more towards the
implementation of policies and procedures to work with agile talent.

13. Having an Objective Outsider

Many companies are great at in-house training and coaching, and there is great value in
working in the same environment as your coach or mentor. Having an independent outsider
helps all gain clarity.

14. Promoting Continuous Education

As the business landscape persistently grows in competitive intensity, every organizational
member must be smarter. Therefore, continuous learning will be at the forefront of
management's agenda to gain and sustain a competitive advantage.

What motivation really is?

Motivation represents the reasons for people’s actions, desires, and needs. It can also be
defined as one’s direction to behavior or what causes a person to want to repeat a behavior and
vice versa.

It stimulates the group to achieve, what they want. It makes the working environment
comfortable for the employees. Motivation encourages the individual or group help them to
perform to their fullest potential. This helps the organization to get better and faster results from
their employees, also increasing their individual growth. It also keeps the employees
concentrated and focused towards their work.

Traits of a Good Motivator

A good motivator-:
 Communicate goals in specific terms and in writing, and make sure the goals are clearly
understood.
 Shows openness to experience. He is intellectually curious and willing to try new ideas.
 Tend to be self-disciplined, dutiful and prefer planned behavior to a spontaneous one.
 Is calm, stabled and free from negative emotions.
 Is always full of positive vibrations, which he uses as an incentive to act.
 Is competent; he has the ability to perform efficiently.
 Is always serious about his actions and character.
 Is confident of his abilities.
Leadership and Motivation
Contemporary trends

THREE HABITS OF MOTIVATIONAL LEADERS

1. THEY COMMUNICATE OPENLY AND OFTEN

Motivational leaders should be approachable and open to dialogue so that everyone they are
trying to motivate can ask questions and share their own ideas. That is not shirking the duties
of leadership–it what helps people connect  with your leadership at a personal and emotional
level.
This communication style means not just clearly articulating your message. Paying heed to
the factual as well as emotional content is what allows for better mutual understanding.

2. THEY OFFER POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

Offering well-placed praise is one way to let people know that you appreciate their efforts and
acknowledge their progress. Recognition also makes people more enthusiastic, confident,
cooperative, innovative, and open to change.
Leaders who truly inspire others understand the real worth of positive reinforcement .

3. THEY WALK THE WALK

Effective leaders set an example that others feel motivated to follow.
Being a enthralling role model is the surest way to gain commitment from others–by
personally exhibiting what you want from your team, not just giving instructions.
The point is that knowing how to motivate and inspire other people is the key to connect with
them. Without that connection, there is no working together for a common goal.

A Study in Self-Reflection and Motivation

Leaders have many responsibilities, requiring them to perform diverse tasks. Leaders are
responsible to manage not only their performance, but also their follower’s performance.
Leaders are expected to manage the worries and anxieties which the employees tend to bring.

When compounded with getting work done, management of followers’ emotions can exhaust
leaders’ own energy, leaving them depleted and unengaged at work.

Research suggests that leaders’ sense of self is closely tied to their leadership role, and leaders
care about being successful in their role. By improving their engagement with the employees
and reversing their depletion, they can energize themselves. Also working upon their positive
aspects will help them to be more energized.
There were two studies to investigate whether intervention helps. The first study was a daily
field experiment with a sample of leaders whom we surveyed for two workweeks.

In half of the workdays, first thing in the morning, leaders reflected and wrote about three skills,
achievements, qualities, capabilities, or traits that they liked about themselves and that they
thought made them good leaders. On the other days, leaders wrote about daily activities not
relevant to leadership.

They found that on days when leaders took a few minutes in the morning to reflect and write
about aspects of themselves that make them good leaders, they subsequently felt less depleted
and more engaged, and they reported having a positive impact on their followers. These effects
lasted until the evening, suggesting that leaders felt more positive at home too on intervention
days.

Those aspiring to leadership positions should recognize that leadership can be demanding and
exhausting. Such self-awareness may motivate leaders to engage in activities that protect their
energy at work.