Effective leadership

Peter Drucker once said that “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things”. In our working life it is important to decide whether we are capable of being effective managers or great leaders. We all want to be leaders but do we have the required skills? Clearly successful managers need to have well-developed organisational skills and provide clear direction, develop goals and objectives and ensure their team meet deadlines. They must be able to delegate tasks and responsibilities and create a productive working environment where acceptable standards of behaviour have been clearly defined and are rigorously enforced. Effective managers also need to have good communication skills and be able to present their ideas in both formal and informal situations. They should be able to discuss their ideas, listen to others, whilst offering, and sometimes accepting themselves, constructive feedback. Managers should also be able to facilitate the sharing of ideas, and the resolution of any disagreements or situations of conflict. So what makes a great leader? A leader is a person who:

• Inspires by example;
• Maintains credibility and engenders the trust and confidence of those who work for them;
• Demonstrates a respect for all those who work alongside them and the contribution the tasks they undertake make at all levels of the organisation;
• Promotes the values and mission of the organisation with colleagues, suppliers and customers;
• Develops ownership among colleagues for the work they undertake and the goals that need to be achieved;
• Motivates others in a positive way, often without the individuals themselves realising;
• and ultimately makes everyone feel that they have a clear, distinct and achievable vision for the future.

So are you a manager or a leader?