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5 Attributes of an Effective Leader

by Sara J. Baker, Ed.D.

Do you find yourself over-thinking and over-managing tasks? Do you feel like your team doesn’t trust or respect you as a leader? Are they reluctant to take risks, even if it’s for the good of the company? It could be that they don’t see any room for advancement. Good leaders know how important trust and empowerment are in creating an effective work environment. This blog post will cover what traits make up a strong leader and offer some tips on how to become one.

Effective Leaders Have a Vision and Communicate It Effectively

Effective leaders have a vision and know how to communicate it effectively. A vision is what you want the team to achieve. It is usually explained in larger terms but is most effective when tied back to the greater good so that it serves to create a purpose for the team. Leaders must know what the vision is for their organization and team and be able to bring that vision to life. This sets the tone for what is happening on the team and will help to inspire the team.

Effective Leaders

When you’re leading, your team needs to know what direction they are headed in order for them to execute their tasks with the highest level of effectiveness. Communicating the vision is just as important as having one! Effective leaders will find ways to describe the vision in a way that helps everyone on the team understand how their individual work fits into the bigger picture.

Effective Leaders Trust and Empower Their Team

They lead their team, but also empower them to make decisions. They always offer help when it is needed and do not complain about other people’s work or take credit for the accomplishments of others.

The best leaders empower their followers. They know that for the team to achieve its goals, they need an environment where people feel empowered and respected. Do you want your team members to feel valued? Here are some questions to ask yourself: 

-Do I trust my staff?

-Do I set clear expectations?

-Do I give them autonomy or do I micromanage everything they do?

These are just a few of the many questions that will determine if you’re leading in a way that is effective. If not, it’s time for some change! The first step towards empowering your team is starting with trusting them enough to allow mistakes to happen while giving feedback when needed. And then, start delegating tasks or projects so they can build their skills and feel valued.

Effective Leaders Show Respect for Others as well as Themselves

A leader who shows respect will be respected in return, which makes everything else so much easier!  A person who has respect for themselves and others will be able to show kindness, empathy, and understanding when they interact with their employees. Respecting yourself as a leader means you should be direct, but you should also take the time to listen and respond to your team members with kindness.

Effective leaders often show respect in indirect ways: listening and validating others, thanking them for their contributions or ideas. These actions create strong bonds between the leader and those around her which makes teamwork far more effective than when a boss is demanding and difficult to work with.

Effective Leaders Coach and Develop Their Team Members

Effective leaders coach and develop their team members. They are not afraid to give feedback on how to do things better, but they also make sure that the person knows what the goal is and why they are doing this. Being clear about expectations from the beginning ensures that team members know what the goals are and coaching is easier because you are both moving in the same direction.

Effective leaders coach and develop their team members by being honest with them about opportunities for growth or improvements that may need to be made. Team members need to feel like they are making progress and that their efforts will be rewarded; otherwise, motivation is difficult to keep up.

When you trust, empower, and believe in your team they will feel more confident to do their best work. It’s up to you as a leader or supervisor to show them that this is true. They need validation from someone who has their back which starts with showing them respect and kindness on top of giving them clear expectations about what needs to be done.

A great leader knows how much each person on their team contributes individually by making sure everyone feels included in meetings or group projects where they can contribute ideas freely without fear of criticism or judgment. This way people know they’re valued members of the team because every voice matters!  What

Effective Leaders are Humble and Confident

Successful leaders are humble and confident at the same time in order to be successful. A sign of a good leader is when they have a great sense of self-confidence, but they also know their limitations and don’t get too far ahead of themselves.

Being a leader and empowering your employees is all about trusting those around you and giving them the tools they need in order to complete the tasks at hand. Leaders should be humble and confident at the same time in order to be successful.

It’s difficult for many leaders who are just starting out to find that perfect balance between confidence and humility. They think they need to be either confident and demanding, or humble and submissive in order for their team members to respect them.

What About You?

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Do you want to be a better leader? If you’re ready to be a great leader and help your team succeed, check out our online training, Breakthrough Leadership Strategies, and learn how to lead with more confidence, trust your team members, successfully empower them with responsibility, create an environment of respect for others as well as yourself, coach and develop people on the team so they can become even stronger leaders themselves?

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Dr. Sara Baker, Founder of the Leadership Reformation

About the Author

Dr. Sara Baker is an advocate for positive leadership and healthy workplaces. With over 20 years of experience leading private and public organizations, she understands the challenges that employees and leaders face every day.

Sara is the author of Toxic Workplace Survival Guide, an essential resource for anyone who wants to thrive in spite of a toxic work environment or who is ready to quietly quit. In addition to her writing, Sara provides online courses for leadership development and coping with a toxic workplace.

Sara enjoys spending time with her family and friends on her farm in Texas.

Dr. Sara Baker, Founder of the Leadership Reformation

About the Author

Dr. Sara Baker is a thought leader in the area of positive leadership and healthy workplaces. With over 20 years of experience leading private and public organizations, she understands the challenges that employees face every day.

Sara is the author of Toxic Workplace Survival Guide, an essential resource for anyone who wants to thrive in spite of a toxic work environment or who is ready to quietly quit. In addition to her writing, Sara provides online courses for leadership development and coping with a toxic workplace.

Sara enjoys spending time with her family and friends on her farm in Texas.

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