October 2022

She/Her Leadership 101 - Ace the Race

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality’’ great words by an even greater person and the father of leadership himself - Warren G Bennis. Leadership is the driving force that shapes and guides a company’s future are turning it into a reality.

Successful leaders are like gardeners. They create an environment that encourages profitable growth by planting seeds, removing weeds, cultivating talent, and growing their teams capabilities. Remarkable, isn’t it? Successful leaders of people develop an environment that places a premium on problem-solving and rewards results.

So the real question is;

Why is Leadership Important? Why Can’t we Function Without it?

Leadership is more than just a position. It's more about the actions and the measures taken to motivate and inspire a society or team to excellence. A comprehensive answer to the question mentioned above would be that leadership is essential because it's a vital management function that helps guide an organization's resources for improved efficiency and the achievement of goals - according to Indeed’s career development blog on the importance of leadership. So why is leadership important?

The Importance of Leadership

Here are some reasons justifying why leadership is essential for an organization.

1. Leadership drives change by instigating action.

2. It provides reinforcement and motivation that is crucial for goal achievement.

3. It nourishes the ultimate vision through sound guidance and advice.

4. It has the power to inspire people by displaying passions that lead to collective

dedication.

5. It boosts staff morale and self-confidence, inducing optimum results.

6. It builds a productive work environment through coordination and empathy.

7. It also encourages creativity and input that ensures growth and prosperity.

8. Lastly, efficient problem-solving is one of the greatest gifts of leadership that

helps overcome challenges an organization deals with on a regular basis.

With firm leadership, an organization can count on substantial power, knowing that someone has their backs, allowing them to excel and grow.

Ace Firm Leadership - The Road to Excellence

Speaking of excellence and growth, how does an organization reach excellence? As we’ve formerly established, Firm leadership is the holy grail that secures a company’s future by acting in the present, improving and uplifting the subordinates, and ensuring exceptional performance; firm leadership blooms from a firm leader.

Now, this brings us to another vital question, i.e. What are the attributes of such a leader? Psychologist Kurt Lewin’s three styles of leadership, i.e. Authoritative, Participative, and Delegative leadership AKA Autocratic, Democratic, and Laissez-Faire respectively, suggest that anchored leadership provides direction, implements plans, and motivates people.

But that’s not the entirety of it. A study leader is defined by the leader’s conduct influenced by acquired skills and implied by consigned responsibilities.

Mastering the Skills Required to Ace Leadership

Some people argue that anyone can be a leader with the right set of skills, while others say leaders are born with the skills. So which one is it? Both of the statements are true to some extent. There isn’t a distinct way to define practical leadership skills, but on the contrary, you’ll find numerous skills that a great leader should possess to be successful.

We’ve gathered some core skills to help you improve and excel as a leader.

- Efficient planning and goal setting

- Effective communication to exchange complex ideas quickly.

- Active listening

- Flexibility and adaptation

- Strong decision-making and expertise in your specific field

- Ability to inspire and influence

- Out of the box - creative thinking

- Swift problem solving

- Relationship building and nurturing

- Well-organized time management

- Firm persuasion and convincing power

- Empathetic, considerate, and understanding

- Ability to judge the strength and weaknesses

- Ability to earn the trust

- Reliable and dependable

These are just the core skills of a successful leader. Remember that everyone can lead, so start by mastering the basic skills, and you’ll be halfway there. Another great way to Ace the growing competition is understanding and contemplating your leadership responsibilities.

Any idea what’d be expected of you once you become a part of the leading party?

An effective leader's essential responsibilities revolve around operations,

admin, and performance management. It also includes solving problems, overcoming challenges, guiding and motivating teams, and taking control of the people's health, safety, and welfare.

5 Tips To Ace, The Race with Powerful Leadership

The remarkable growth of excelling businesses worldwide at the speed of light makes the competition extraordinarily aggressive and hard to keep up with. Staying in the game with an intense anchoring leadership zeal is not easy, but it's not impossible either. Think of it like:

1. Define your leadership style

Determining your leadership style is vital for understanding where errors lie, and you can begin working on your weaknesses. Continuous improvement towards a single motive decreases the risks of failure.

2. Promote creativity

Out-of-the-box thinking is a MUST for successful leadership. Encouraging creativity is essential for optimum problem solving and the first step to having a productive work environment that yields promising results.

3. Become a role model

A leader is a person who the subordinates look up to. This is the most straightforward approach to driving transformation. Do and be exactly how you want your team to be, and they’ll follow in your footsteps to greatness.

4. Listen and speak precisely.

Having one on one clear communication with all the group members is the key to

effectively imparting the leader’s vision that raises the members' spirits and motivates them. Clarity enhances precision and perfection, and that's exactly what you ultimately want to ensure exceptional results.

5. Be a team player

A great leader never underestimates the power of teamwork. He’s like the ship's captain and is responsible for everyone. He understands that everyone has an essential role in the game.

Remember that to be a leader is to be like a lion. Vigilance, excellence, power,

decisiveness, courage, bravery, and teamwork need to define you. Like a lion, you act and lead in a group and stand your ground against any challenge thrown at you.

Get in on the conversation

Do you think female leaders have to be more or less assertive than male leaders to receive respect from their subordinates? Or is it indifferent?

Please, Comment below. I'd love to see your thoughts. Wendi

About Wendi O Brown

Wendi’s illustrious career has seen her rise through the ranks to advise the highest levels of leadership in the military. Now, she’s leveraging her expertise to launch a service for results-driven individuals looking to take their careers to the next level.

Wendi's mission is to empower competent, ambitious, and hardworking people with the critical tools they need to thrive in toxic and competitive environments.

Please visit?www.warriorwendi.com for additional information, questions or to schedule a time to meet via Zoom?

And, be sure to?visit my YouTube Channel

References

The importance of personal and professional leadership | Emerald Insight. (2004, July1). Retrieved September 15, 2022, from

https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/01437730410544755/full/html

Marr, B. (2022, July 26). 10 Most Important Leadership Skills For The 21st Century Workplace (And How To Develop Them). Forbes. Retrieved September 15, 2022, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2022/07/26/10-most-important-leadership- skills-for-the-21st-century-workplace-and-how-to-develop-them/?sh=5e65ed684de6

Baker, C. (2022, September 7). Why Is Leadership Important? Leaders.com. Retrieved

September 15, 2022, from https://leaders.com/articles/leadership/why-is-leadership-important/Masterclass. (2022). Leadership Responsibilities: 5 Core Leadership Responsibilities.

Retrieved September 13, 2022, from https://www.masterclass.com/articles/leadership-responsibilities

Westover, J. H., PhD. (2020, December 8). Five Characteristics Of Highly Impactful Leaders. Forbes. Retrieved September 15, 2022, from

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2020/12/08/five-characteristics-of-highly-impactful-leaders/?sh=72760f5dd755

Top 7 Leadership Skills you should learn in 2022 to boost your career. (n.d.). IMD

Business School. Retrieved September 15, 2022, from https://www.imd.org/imd-v