Listening to the political campaigns as they bombard the airwaves, one constantly hears about good leaders and bad leaders, but how can one really tell the difference? What must a person look for in a leader that will tell if that person is either a good leader or bad leader? Hence it is important to know for sure before that crucial time comes and before casting your vote because no organization can rise above the quality of its leadership. What does research has to say about these two types of leaders? How can one spot them? Well, here is what the research literature has to say about both of them.

Mrs. Marilyn Hodge

Who are bad leaders and how to spot them?
Bad leaders are ineffective. They lack the following:-
1. Energy and enthusiasm. If you're not passionate about what you are saying, how can you expect your listeners to be? What you are saying comes from the words in your presentation, and how you are saying it comes from your emotional transference.
2. Clear vision and direction. If you are able to clearly paint a picture of the goals you want to reach, your team instantly will see the future they are working towards.
3. They don't collaborate. Part of motivating a team is empowering them to take on more responsibilities. Successful collaboration requires good communication.
4. They resist new ideas. Sometimes communicating is shutting up. Leading and motivating are not about dictating. As amazing, wonderful, and smart as you are, you don't have all the answers, but your team might. You may never learn the fantastic solutions your team has to offer if you keep talking.
Bad Leaders use:-
1. Threats and Punishment
Punishment is simply a bad and generally ineffective leadership tactic. The goal of punishment is to STOP undesired behaviours. It does nothing to encourage positive, productive behaviours.
2. Fear Tactics
Leaders sometimes use fear to try to get followers to toe the line, or as a motivational strategy e.g. ("if production doesn't pick up around here, people are going to lose their jobs").
3. Self-Serving Use of Power
Often leaders become "intoxicated" by the increased power that their position gives them. Bad leaders let that power go to their heads and do things that are in their own best interests without considering the interests of the collective.
4. Creating Factions: In groups vs. Out groups
Bad leaders reward in group members not because they are top performers, but because they show loyalty to the leader. Bad leaders cultivate their ‘in-groups’ with favours, and that makes it difficult for outsiders to identify bad leaders, or for followers to dislodge the leader from the position of power. The ‘in-group’ followers defend the leader and work to keep him or her in power.
Who are Good Leaders?
Good leaders are, first and foremost, effective people. A great leader has more interest in the well-being of the whole than they do in self.
It's that interest which guides their thinking and action, it's that commitment which gives them their view of life and the courage to ignore the inevitable difficulties and enemies that one acquires in leadership.
A leader is "used by" their commitment, they have a sense of riding a wave which is larger than themselves and larger than any particular individual.
Good Leaders have:-
1. A high standard of personal ethics. This quality leads the list. Decisions made under pressure and/or temptation separate the great leaders from the bad leaders.
2. High energy. Great leaders are not exhausted from dealing with petty issues. These people know right from wrong as well as the difference between what is truly important and what is merely interesting.
3. Walking the talk. The ability to work on priorities shares equal importance with setting priorities. The difference between setting priorities and working on them is the difference between a dreamer and a doer.
4. Courage. The willingness to take risks and accept responsibility for the outcome is a consistent quality among effective leaders. Either you or your fears will control everything you do.
5. Dedication. Committed and dedicated hardworking leaders will eventually develop a dedicated and hardworking organization regardless of whom they start with or the experience they bring to the job.
6. Creativity. Effective leaders are innovators. They prefer to shape tomorrow rather than to repeat yesterday.
7. Focused. Great leaders have the goal orientation to make tough decisions. Goal orientation produces drive and energy that shield them from the pain of the task. Keeping an organization focused increases efficiency.
8. Genuine enthusiasm. This is contagious. People look to their leaders for enthusiasm. The inspiration level of the organization is directly proportionate to the enthusiasm of the leader, be it high or low.
9. Cool under pressure. Level-headed people make realistic leaders who respond to problems rather than simply react. A leader who can stay cool under pressure inspires confidence among those in the organization and empowers them to do the same.
10. Caring. The desire to help others succeed is the mark of a truly great leader. Synergy is created when a leader truly invests his efforts in the success of others.
Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar says: "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care about them."
Whether you are trying to increase your own effectiveness as a leader or are trying to develop leadership talent within your organization, keep studying the characteristics of those you consider to be great leaders.
Long-term commitment to the principles described above will produce an effective leader and, over time, an inspired organization.
Remember that leadership is an art, not a science.

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News