Keys of Great Leadership

George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela, and Winston Churchill were among the great leaders of their time. Each understood his crucial role as a leader and excelled by uniting a body of people for the betterment of society. These men had a clear vision, held the capability to unite a multitude, and understood the importance of accountability.

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality” (Pozin, 2014). You must learn to communicate your vision with consistency and clarity to an organization. When conveying your vision, gain the ability to speak it, write it, draw it, touch it. The goal is to create a picture that people can and will believe in (Vogan, 2006).

Successful leaders hold the qualities that unify, encourage, and move a group of people to success. Their goal is to have the organization become “as one.” This then allows “the culmination of individual action into collective power” (Mehrdad & Quigley, p.1).  Leaders accomplish this through mentoring, coaching, communicating, and listening.

Finally, successful leaders understand the importance of accountability.  In the book Good to Great, Jim Collins gives the analogy of the window and the mirror. He found that outstanding leaders in great companies often look outside themselves to give credit for success, but they look in the mirror to take responsibility for poor performance (Collins, p. 33). Great leaders acknowledge mistakes, learn from them, and move forward with determination.

Becoming an outstanding leader is admirable undertaking. To achieve such a goal you need to have a motivating vision, the ability to unite a body, and grasp the essence of accountability. John Kotter reminds us, “Leadership defines what the future should look like, aligns people with that vision, and inspires them to make it happen despite the obstacles” (McCarthy, 2014).

Reference

Baghai, M., Quigley, J., Aijala, A., Challah, S., & Vorster, G. (2011). As one: individual action, collective power (p. 1). London: Portfolio/Penguin.

Collins, J. (2001). Good to great: Why some companies make the leap... and others don't (p. 33). New York: Collins Business.

McCarthy, Dan (2014). What is leadership? 30 definitions. Retrieved from: http://management.about.com/od/leadership/fl/What-is-Leadership-30-Definitions.htm

Pozin, Ilya (2014). 16 leadership quotes to inspire you to greatness. Forbes. Retrieved from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ilyapozin/2014/04/10/16-leadership-quotes-to-inspire-you-to-greatness/

Vogan, Patty (2006). 5 key traits of great leaders. Entrepreneur. Retrieved from: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/163590

Are You a Competitive Applicant?

Each year numerous job applicants flood the market. Becoming a competitive applicant requires a keen understanding of employer’s desires, development of crucial characteristics, and a grasp of vital interview techniques. Here is the way to rise above the rest and be recognized as a professional employee.

                Learning what employers are looking for is fundamental to your success. Ken Sundheim explains that employers and companies are putting a considerable amount of weight on the personalities of the applicants. Companies are hiring on what they perceive the applicant can accomplish rather than what the applicant has already learned.  Companies now believe it is more effective to train employees on industry specific skills rather than instill in their employees specific character traits (2013).

Employers are placing a larger emphasis on personalities during the hiring process; therefore it is imperative that we establish quality traits.   Some of these attributes include committed, capable, autonomous, team oriented, self-motivated, marketable, and respectful. “Above all, it is your character that will have the greatest impact.  . . .  Your job now is to continue working on your character by practicing these behaviors” (Undercover, 2014).

Professional employees possess the ability to communicate effectively. During the interview your future employer is given the opportunity to see your ability to communicate efficiently. This is a decisive moment for you; make sure you remember these tips. First, be proactive; do not wait for the employers to introduce themselves, first impressions count. Second, speak clearly but not rushed; give yourself time to create a constructive concise thought. Third, stay calm and do not allow your body language to detract from your success (Micah & Wilson, 2014).

Developing into a competitive applicant is a great endeavor, which is achievable as you increase your knowledge of company’s expectations, incorporate essential attributes, and gain communication proficiency.  As you improve upon these areas, you will be recognized as a qualified professional.

Reference

Micah, Wilson. (2014). Interview techniques. [Blog post.] Retrieved from: http://www.everydayinterviewtips.com/interview-techniques

Sundheim, S. (2013, April 02). 15 traits of the ideal employee. Forbes. Retrieved from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kensundheim/2013/04/02/15-traits-of-the-ideal-employee/

Undercover Recruiter (2014).Top 7 qualities employers are looking for in candidates. Retrieved from: http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/top-7-qualities-employers-are-looking-candidates/