Today’s topic of choice is leadership in terms of workplace supervisors and managers. I have had my fair share of supervisors both bad and good and can say with 100% certainty that I learned from both types of leaders. I would like to point out that whether I believe said person was a good supervisor is completely subjective on my thoughts, experiences, and feelings. For example, I’ve had some supervisors where I just can’t seem to level with, but my peers think they are amazing. So today I’d like to discuss what I believe to be are important qualities of someone in a leadership role.
Communication
Without a doubt communication is an absolute must. They must be able to convey their thoughts in a manner which makes us understand what is expected, how things will be achieved, and the outcomes. Communication is a two-way street though therefore active listening also plays a role on how much of an effective communicator you are.
Positivity
A positive leader is better able to motivate their team members in a way that a Debbie Downer ever could. A leader who is positive fosters a healthy work environment where colleagues feel comfortable sharing information. A positive person also portrays confidence and self-awareness in a way that can rubs off onto team members so in the end everybody (hopefully) can have a positive mindset.
Trustworthy
Do you tell your secrets to the office gossip? Do you trust someone who consistently misses deadlines? What about someone who goes back on their word? The answer to all those questions is probably a ‘NO!’ Someone who is in a leadership position earns the trust of others by holding themselves accountable, being honest, reliable, and the keeper of secrets.
Empathetic
We all come from different walk of life, and each have our own struggles. These struggles could be workplace related such as disputes between personnel or it could be a little more personal subject such as big life events unrelated to work. Either way a leader should be compassionate and address any struggles that may arise.
So… am I a good leader?
I would like to say that I am, that I make a conscious effort to become someone who can be relied on, is transparent with not only my wins but also my losses. That I foster a work environment that is positive and uplifting. But ultimately whether I’m a good leader or not is dependent on the person. However, I hope that I can create an environment where my peers can be comfortable enough to provide me with meaningful feedback which will help me better serve them and myself in my journey through leadership.
