Characteristics of an Effective Leader

            You can become an effective leader by following three steps. First, you need to become a good (if not great) communicator. Second, you must set reasonable goals so that you can motivate your team to success. Third, you will need to become an expert in your job because the person who puts in the most effort and has the most knowledge will ultimately lead the team whether or not he/she are in a leadership position.

            The first step to being a good leader is to be an effective communicator. This requires you to speak clearly and with confidence. Whenever you have a group speech or conference, prepare what you have to say, fit your material to your audience, and maintain a comfortable amount of eye contact (Hill, 2009).

            You must set realistic goals for your employees and yourself to become a good leader. One way to set good goals is to follow what Peter Drucker created and what he coined as SMART goals which are specific, measurable, assignable, realistic and time based (What is a smart goal?, 2014).

            Next you need to know how to become an expert in your field. It is acceptable if you don’t know how to answer an employee’s question but do your research and be ready to find the answer for them (How to be a leader). The more of the answers you can give to them, the more likely your employees will follow your lead.

Now you can see how important having good communication, setting measurable goals, and knowing your job is in order to become a good leader. Once these are mastered you are one step closer to becoming a great business leader.

References

Hill, C. (2009, July 14). What makes an effective leader? Retrieved October 13, 2014, from Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/money/effective-leader-article-1.372028

How to be a leader. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2014, from WikiHow: http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Leader

What is a smart goal? (2014). Retrieved October 13, 2014, from Smart Goals: http://www.smart-goals-guide.com/smart-goal.html

Things Every Successful Future Businessperson Needs to Know: Characteristics of Professionalism

                Professionalism is the key to success in the business world and having a positive attitude, wearing appropriate office attire, and having good communication skills, are the stepping stones to help get you there (Dogra, 2011).

                Having a positive attitude is the first stepping stone to success because it reveals how hard you are willing to work to get the job done as well as the belief that the job will get done. Not only will you work harder but you will also influence others to do the same; positivity breeds positivity. It also puts people at ease (Paige, 2014), which can reduce workplace stress and thus decrease mistakes.

                Proper office dress can be one of the most important ways to show professionalism. Your first impression sets the tone to how others see you for a long time. Others will take you more seriously and trust you with important jobs when you dress appropriately because it illustrates how you feel about your job.

                Business is built on and run by communication, so having good communication skills could be the most important key to your success. Communication skills increase efficiency and effectiveness because it decreases the repetition of instructions and helps prevent unnecessary mistakes. It also increases accuracy in the workplace by decreasing the number of errors made by being misunderstood. These skills help you show off your intelligence and prove that you earned the job (Carter, 2014).

                When you have a positive attitude, wear suitable work clothing, and communicate efficiently your business opportunities will flourish and you are on your way to finding success in the business world.

 

References

Carter, C. (2014). Importance of professional dress. Retrieved October 2, 2014, from eHow: http://www.ehow.com/about_5101038_importance-professional-dress.html

Dogra, A. (2011, March 25). Characteristics of professionalism. Retrieved October 2, 2014, from Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/characteristics-of-professionalism.html

Paige, A. (2014). Business attitude etiquette. Retrieved October 2, 2014, from Chron: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/business-attitude-etiquette-25198.html