Leaders in the workforce are some of the most influential people. These people provide guidance, direction, even inspiration to others. Leaders in the workplace always have the following qualities in common.
Lead by example
If you are going to be a leader, people will look to you to figure out what is the right thing to do. By gaining respect and setting expectations for others, you also have to be the one to hold yourself accountable, to also hold yourself to the right standards. If you demand a lot of your team, they’re going to look to what you’re doing to see if it has any credibility. Leading by example builds a foundation of trust with your team.
Demonstrate integrity
Your values are some of the most important things in your arsenal, guiding your decisions, behaviors, and your actions with others. You have to have a clear understanding of what’s right and what’s wrong, and should be seen as ethical, and overall are respected for being genuine and principled. These people always keep the promises that they make, are good at communicating, and as someone who has a good sense of character.
Communicate effectively
This is a crucial leadership skill. Communication is so much more than listening to someone and responding with the right thing. It’s about sharing the best information possible, asking inviting and intelligent questions, asking for input, but most importantly, clarifying misunderstandings. You have to be able to be clear about what you want before you even try to lead others. Good leaders also use communication skills to all around inspire their staff.
Make difficult decisions.
This is probably the most important part of leadership. Making difficult decisions fast is incredibly vital when it comes to leading. People are looking for you to take the next step as the person in charge. You also may not have all of the information and making a fair decision can be tricky. Determining what you want to achieve and the possible consequences of making the decision is incredibly crucial. You also want to take into account any possible alternatives to a final decision, but once you’ve made your decision, you have to follow through and keep good on your promise. This allows other people to trust you and respect you as well.
Being a leader can be difficult at times, but it’s nice to be needed, and it’s rewarding being the person that people can count on. Take these qualities into consideration when applying for a leadership position: are these qualities that you have?
Erik Halvorsen is the Chief Business & Strategy Officer at FAR Biotech. As a result of his industry experience, Erik is an often sought-after public speaker, and he has served as an advisor to various hospitals and start-ups. He is constantly looking for new ways to improve patients’ lives while changing the broader healthcare industry for the better. He has been referred to as a “translator,” in that he has the ability to speak science with businesspeople and speak business with science people.