Leadership Through my Eyes

What is the essence of a good leader, and what qualities are necessary to become a good leader that others will respect and want to follow?

What mistakes should a good leader be aware of and try to avoid?

As a young business leader, currently working as a finance director, I find myself reflecting on these questions daily.

I recognize that the quest to becoming a great leader is a journey of learning, improvement and reflection, which requires dedication, willingness to embrace change and an open mind. The environment we work in and the people we meet also have an impact and shape a leader’s character.

So what important qualities do I feel a good leader should possess and what should they be aware of? Aside from the technical and professional competencies in the given field (Finance, Sales, IT, etc.), it is through my personal experience and in my opinion a combination of the following:

Caring

I believe that a leader who cares deeply about the work they are doing, is passionate about their company’s success and cares about the professional, and personal, satisfaction of team members is truly on the path to becoming a good leader. I feel that this last point, caring for the well-being of your team, is a key element to success, but it is sadly sometimes overlooked.

Employees are the biggest asset of the company but can also be its biggest loss if not led properly. Leaders need to acknowledge this and embrace the fact that they hold the power to change people’s lives and act accordingly. I consider and treat every member of my team as a unique individual and take care to understand their goals, motivations and inspirations so I can help them to grow.

From my experience I know how very important it is for an individual’s morale to acknowledge a job well done. I am often amazed at how many leaders forget to show their appreciation when necessary. An employee that does not feel appreciated can become de-motivated and disengaged from the workplace, which will ultimately result in problems for the leader. I work on the principle that a good support team helps to create a good leader and, therefore, a content, motivated team is key.

Effective decision-making & accountability

A good leader should acknowledge that the most effective decisions are often made as part of a team. This should be after consideration of all the necessary facts and typically after consultation with key people in the company. Key people do not necessarily mean the most senior people in the company but often middle management and non-managerial employees who possess good business domain knowledge. It is important that every leader identifies and involves its key employees in important decisions, as without their understanding and experience there is a risk that an incorrect decision could be made.

An effective leader should also make, stand by and assume accountability for their decisions. I have encountered leaders who wanted to lead but did not want to make decisions for fear of being held accountable in the event of unfavourable consequences. This fear of acting can only damage a business and it is our responsibility as leaders to act, even when faced with tough decisions.

Understanding the bigger picture

In order to perform my duties as a leader and finance director to the best of my abilities, I believe that an understanding of the bigger picture – i.e., knowing the company’s operations inside-out – is vital. My earlier role as an internal auditor taught me the importance of this business-wide understanding.

A leader that is fully aware of its company’s processes, systems and departmental operations is better equipped to lead the company successfully and make the right decisions. A lack of such understanding could result in tunnel vision, where a leader may only focus and be interested in their area of expertise. This could lead to decisions being made that could be to the detriment of other areas of the business.

Listening

All the qualities I have listed above require a simple, but very essential quality: the ability to listen.

In my career I have encountered a number of leaders who struggle with this basic quality. This has mostly manifested itself by leaders passing on their judgement before allowing others to fully express themselves or, more frequently, before evaluating all the necessary aspects of what has been said to them.

What these leaders might not realise is that unwillingness to listen to others could lead to a break-down in communication within the organisation, disengagement of its employees and ineffective decisions being made. Developing an active listening skill should therefore be a top priority for any good leader.

In summary, I feel that these core qualities I have listed are fundamental to becoming a good leader. We should endeavour to: