by Mario Carini

Created on: November 23, 2010

Whether you're a family man or the top executive of a multi-national corporation, your leadership needs to be positive if you are to continue to lead your family or your business to prosperity.

True leaders have special qualities that make them stand out in society. All of them have different personalities whether they are a Nelson Mandela, a Mother Teresa or a Thomas Edison. But one thing stands out as the most important trait. That is the trait of remaining positive no matter what the situation may be.

Cultivating leadership requires many qualities, among them sympathy and devotion. But staying positive is one of the hardest traits to develop. In today's economic climate, it's easy to get depressed when faced with making ends meet. The executive never finds it easy to lay off employees or downsize the corporation. Even the politicians of the world's nations have to make serious choices when it comes to handling deficits.

If you hold responsibilities, you need to cultivate positive qualities. Once you have them, those you lead will follow your direction. So how can you become a positive leader?

Approachable Leadership

The leader who remains isolated from everyone else, will soon find himself leaderless. In difficult times, the most important quality of leadership is to realize that you can't accomplish anything unless you have people who are willing to act on your direction. But they can't do that if you are not reachable and open to suggestions.

Focus on the Interests of Others

When the ship is sinking, you're not much good if you bail out to leave your family or your employees to cope by themselves. A positive leader is concerned about his “troops” and their welfare over his own welfare. While you can't handle your employees' financial affairs, you can show empathy toward their plight and do what you can to ease their burdens and find ways to help those who will get the pink slip.

Positive Leaders are Flexible

No corporation can survive if its leaders rule with an iron fist. No leader cam do everything. Delegating is important during financial crisis as people are more willing to work harder and sacrifice more to save their jobs. Flexible leaders means giving them the opportunity to show what they can do. Everyone wants to solve problems. A crisis in the family or the corporate environment has the advantage of unifying everyone to work toward the same goals. Selfishness is prevalent only when the economy is good. Once the crisis is past, the family or the corporation often emerge stronger than before and everyone trusts their leaders more.

Leaders Take Responsibility

When things don't go according to plan, the positive leader doesn't search for excuses or looks for a convenient scapegoat to lay the blame on. Leaders are in the position they are in because they have learned to make hard but good decisions most of the time. Taking responsibility for their actions is what impresses those they lead. Winston Churchill, heads of state and military leaders were able to create a massive following of people who were inspired to do their best to create a better world. Evil leaders never accept their responsibilities.

So if you want to be an effective leader, you need to see problems as opportunities. Look at the positives that every crisis can bring. Without a positive attitude, you'll never remain a leader of people for long.

Learn more about this author, Mario Carini.
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