How to Develop into a Dynamic Leader

Coach: First you must ask yourself what type of leader you want to be.

Once you have decided that first important question, then you should consider carefully all of these qualities. At the top of my list would be Direction. If the leader knows where he’s going and stays on track it makes life easier for everyone that has to follow.

Next would be Strategy, you have to know how you’re going to get to your destination. The leader doesn’t necessarily have to be a great developer of strategies, but he has to be able to find good strategies.

Good Judgment seems to be a quality that all good leaders possess.

There comes a time in every project when things start to go awry. At such times the leader must show his Belief in both himself and the project and drive it forward.

The ability to Communicate with clarity and in a way that inspires people is relatively rare in modern leaders, but it is very important.

Call it Presence of Charisma, a good leader has to be able to connect with his team and win their respect.

The best leaders have quite remarkable Energy and Stamina. They keep going when all around them are wilting.

In order to be able to shoulder the workload of leadership you need above average Personal Organisation. In this I would include time management and general tidiness.

It is often noticeable how comfortable the really good leaders are. This is because they are good People Pickers and have surrounded themselves with people who are highly competent at their jobs.

What is often overlooked is the need for leaders to be good at Learning. They have to keep one step ahead of the game.

Most of the good leaders I have met have remarkable Strength of Character. They know who they are and what they are.

Leaders often have to take difficult decisions and that requires Courage.

Then again, when searching for solutions, it is important for the leader to have ideas, to be a good Innovator when everyone else is stuck and looking for direction.

When projects get stuck and refuse to move ahead the leader needs to demonstrate the Determination to make things move.

Finally, I would mention Negotiation. Many of the upsets in the world occur as a result of poor negotiation or the inability to reach consensus on sensitive issues.

Client: It seems like a good leader needs a great many qualities. What happens if you don’t possess all of those qualities?

Coach: Firstly you should question yourself about why you want to be a leader. If, after examining yourself, you still find that you want to lead others, then you need to start training yourself to develop these leadership qualities.

Client: What do you suggest is the best way to train oneself?

Coach: Well, as I just said, leaders are learners. The first question is, “what is the way that you learn best?” Once you know that, you should set about studying.

Client: Do you not recommend coaching to everyone?

Coach: Yes I do, but it is important to find the right coach and the right coach for you may take a while to find. In the meantime you need to read and examine yourself for weaknesses. Study other leaders to see how they behave. In particular you should ask a leader you really respect to be your mentor.

Client: What qualities should I look for in a leadership coach?

Coach: Most important is to find someone who has themselves been a leader. This is an area in which there is not substitute for experience. You must have respect for the person you are working with. They must be able to understand your weaknesses and help you to surmount them.

If you are seriously interested in becoming a top-flight leader I am more than happy to give you an hour of my time to discuss how you can achieve your ambition. You can get in touch with me by using the Contact form at the top right of this page.

Best wishes,

“The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and the self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.”
Theodore Roosevelt