by Alyaa El-Kafrawy

Created on: October 26, 2009

Leadership

Everyone must know how to lead.

When you are in any position in an organization let it be a manager or a direct leader or even a small workman, you are often met with moments when you've to be your own boss and take a decision that's when some leadership skills may become handy.

Leading is really about constantly keeping your eye on the goal. You've to look at where things are going not where they are now. As Stephen covey once described the difference between leadership and management. When there were a team trying to find their way out in a forest he said that managers were the people walking behind making sure everyone has the appropriate tools, took appropriate trainings and is doing his job right, While leadership is the man scouting on the front. Sitting on a tall tree and yelling; Wrong Jungle! :)

So in order to lead you have to have a clear picture of where you are going (A Vision).

Leading has so many styles that you can read about in all text books. The most effective of them in my opinion is leading by example.

You want people to work; don't sit around and give them orders. Instead, Work! You want them to be forgiving then forgive them when they make a mistake. You want them to be trustworthy, then you yourself become that. A child imitates his dad in everything and so does a team, they are a reflection to their leader behavior.

Of course there are exceptions to the rule and that's why there are several styles of leadership, but personally I've lead a team for two years on a row and I think this is the best way, not the only way but the most effective. I've dealt with people who need encouragement to do their work, those who need a push, others who don't know what they are doing, those who blame others for their mistakes and those who sit around and do nothing. The only thing I did was to make sure I am doing my best and everyone else knows what they should do and how to do it. I've always kept a communication channel between us for support when needed. Not everything worked out great and not everyone thought I was the perfect leader and that's normal. But I felt good I did my best, most of the tasks got done, and nobody complained about my leadership in the team.

Of course most and not all of task is not enough and again that's why other styles are required too.

Lead by example and be flexible to change styles is the best way to describe the best leader if you asked me.

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