Essential Traits for Authentic Leadership: Identifying Necessary Characteristics and Practical Steps to Take at the Helm
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In the realm of business and leadership, cultivating a culture of trust and transparency is paramount for both individual and organisational success. This is according to research and the experiences of many managers, as revealed in a recent survey by The Predictive Index, which polled over 5,100 employees.
The ideal leader, it seems, is someone who demonstrates a strong work ethic, honesty, self-awareness, confidence, a sense of humour, and a positive attitude. Paul A. Dillon, a consultant and Adjunct Instructor at Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, echoes this sentiment.
So, what makes a great manager? The Predictive Index's survey suggests that building trust and transparency within a company involves being honest and conveying a sense of trustworthiness, particularly when implementing new technologies or policies.
Regardless of where you are in your career, finding leaders and mentors who can inspire and motivate you to enhance your leadership skills is important. Drew Fortin, the SVP of sales and marketing at The Predictive Index, emphasises the importance of investing in mentorship, leadership courses, and fostering a culture of trust and transparency.
Research highlights that real leaders combine emotional intelligence, decisiveness, adaptability, and ethical role modeling to fuel organisational success and growth. Key qualities of a real leader include agility and adaptability, strong interpersonal skills, being a role model, self-regulation and composure, decisiveness and assertiveness, balance between performance and transformation, curiosity and conscientiousness, and humility and willingness to learn.
Employee trust, on the other hand, is a powerful force that boosts revenue, improves job satisfaction and retention, fosters creativity through psychological safety, enhances mental health and performance, and is crucial for overall success. Top companies prioritise cultivating trust in leadership, recognising its transformative potential.
In conclusion, becoming a real leader involves being approachable and confident, exhibiting qualities like integrity, decisiveness, and selflessness while prioritising the needs of others. It's about learning from experience, applying that learning to new and challenging situations, and continuously seeking to improve. Completing a certified leadership course can provide structured and comprehensive knowledge about leadership principles, effective communication, decision-making, and team management. Ultimately, investing in mentorship, leadership courses, and fostering a culture of trust and transparency can help you become a real leader who inspires and guides others to achieve their full potential.
