Leadership Qualities To Help You Win Everyday Battles

There is the overarching image of a leader in this country that we are exposed to very early on in all of our lives. You know, the snarky lecturer at the front of the room with the cool TED Talks earpiece and the smart-looking glasses, the engaging teacher, the so-called authority on a subject (often with several published or self-published books), or the CEO in the fine cut suit and opulent watch who can reach his/her people at any time.

We are trained to pay attention to the loudest voice or respect the person sitting at the head of the table. It is, in fact, a model of power that is reinforced throughout our schooling and most of our adult lives. But is this archetype representative of a true leader? Would crowds of people follow this figure in a crisis?

And, further, are there everyday leaders? Are the folks who get up at 5 am, start breakfast, wake up the kids (partner), dress the kids (partner), get them to school (work), run errands, clean the house, make the meals leaders? Most of us won’t ever become superheroes and many will never see the inside of a boardroom. So, what are the leadership qualities to help you win everyday battles and become a leader in your own life?

Well, that is what we are here to find out. And, according to one blog, the elements of leadership can more easily be understood if they are broken down into manageable categories such as the ones that follow:

• Humility is, by many accounts, the hallmark of successful modern leaders, especially as evidenced through decision-making. Although this, at first, may seem counter-intuitive, as the world has seen its share of tyrants (those without humility) of late, it also seems that the result of their reign never ends well for humanity as a whole.

• Courage the meet overwhelming challenges is the mark of any great leader, and true leaders are able to stand up and make even-measured beneficial decisions in the face of insurmountable odds. From Beowulf to Queen Elizabeth, each leader throughout history had the courage to follow through with their convictions and come out successful and beloved.

• When we think of perseverance, we might think of Gandhi and his quest for a free and independent India. But there are, in fact, examples all around us, from the student who chooses to do his homework over watching tv to the homeowner who figures out a way to pay the mortgage each month through lean times.

• Compassion is a quality that may seem overlooked these days, especially in the current political climate, and, to some, it may seem like more of a Christian-based idiom than a hard and fast characteristic of modern leaders. However, throughout history, many of the world’s beloved leaders think, speak, and act nicely to other, keeping in mind that they are, in many cases, the mouthpieces for representative countries. Remembering that leadership is often built on the backs of the Proletariat, successful leaders may keep in mind that they will no longer be leaders if there is no one to lead.

As you can see, there are no hard and fast rules to for being a great leader, and many of our beloved great leaders may have had the benefit of time in history, political climate, and circumstance on their side. Moreover, great leaders may possess certain innate qualities of leadership, but that does not mean we all can’t work on honing our own leadership skills to become more assertive and better tackle everyday battles.

Commitment, in particular, may be a pursuit that is measured over time. And whether that translate to having a commitment to a task, a goal, or a pursuit, matter little compared to the effort it takes to see that commitment through.

A common example that many self-help and inspirational sources use is the case of Grammy Award-winning artist, Carlos Santana. Santana was born in Mexico and began playing the guitar in the streets of his home country for money at 11 years old.

Santana and his family moved to the U.S. as a teen, but he struggled to adjust and in school. Eventually. he poured all of his efforts into making music, and the self-taught guitar player went on to play music with Blues legends like B. B. King. Santana, by all rights, went on to be one of the most successful guitarists in history release and release 36 albums and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

But Santana, despite all of his successes, made it a point to work with young and upcoming artists in leading by example and parlaying his level of commitment onto others. Which brings us to our next point, a point that is reinforced by another source: leaders lead by example. And Santana led by doing something he loved, but that might not always be the case.

Admittedly, it may be easier to lead by example when you are doing what you love, and, in an instant-gratification modern world, this quality is, perhaps, more overlooked by inexperienced leaders. However, parents will understand this one all too well, and it is a quality that is the most likely to fetch a fast following, as it is a very hands-on way to make for common ground between leaders and followers.

An allegorical example of what we mean may serve us well here and the example of technology offer some illustration of what we mean. Today, computers are everywhere, and they even fit into the palm of your hand, but in the late 80’s and 90’s, it wasn’t uncommon to only find one or two computers in a school or office.

And an everyday leader, like, say, an open-minded librarian might have seen the potential in this technology for organizing collections and data and started using it immediately, modeling the use of the new technology for students. A Social Studies teacher, on the other hand, may have opted not to use computers at all in his classroom and instead clutched tightly to his Encyclopedia Britannica collection for as long as he could.

While the librarian may have given her students a head start in the world of technology, the Social Studies teacher chose not to model leadership at all when it came to computers. As it turns out, computers did not go away and the librarian's decision to lead by example gave her students a jump start on the future.

However, one blog claims that the Social Studies teacher may not have been entirely in the wrong, as part of leading is also Makin g Decisions about where to lead your followers. Change is hard. And great leaders, more often than not, make great decisions in the face of change. Making decisions that could impact the lives of others is no task to be taken lightly and great leaders tend to be able to do it with ease while staying both confident and calm.

We are not talking about making decisions out of thin air, though, as great leaders are well-informed and measured about the decisions that they make so confidently. A great leader will figure out a balance between their own beliefs and the welfare of others. Leaders can take criticism and internalize it to make a decision that impacts many more than him or herself, and, further, he/she will be prepared to explain why that decision was made the way it was.

Moreover, a great leader is not afraid to Ask Questions, get things wrong, or reshape his/her understanding. Leaders need an informative, honest, and reliable support system, and the most successful leaders admit openly that they do not know the answers to all things.

Other qualities that influence leadership besides a good support system and the ability to process criticism are getting plenty of exercise and ensuring a full night of restful sleep. These might seem like no-brainers, but maintaining clear-headedness is a hallmark of being an effective leader.

However, a leader is not an island, and, according to one article, developing leadership talent matters. And, in fact, a February 2018 study from DDI found that organizations that focus on developing talent below senior levels “are 4.2 times more likely to outperform other organizations financially.

That is because concentrating all of the decision-making at the top can lead to a laissez-faire approach that can be counterproductive and is in conflict with another category on our list called Delegating Authority. But whether you are delegating at a Fortune 500 company or in your everyday life, be sure to have a solid and diverse support system in place. This will make it much easier to delegate.

Moreover, the Boston Consulting Group recently found that companies with an “above-average diversity on their management teams” saw 19% higher earnings than those with below-average diversities. And, social scientist, Frank Niles, Ph.D. agrees that cultivating a diverse support network is also a great goal in your personal life.

Community involvement and volunteerism can foster some wonderfully steadfast relationships in both personal and professional areas, the doctor says. Also, Active Listening and Taking the Lead are also important qualities to develop and hone. Don’t just tune people out. Instead try hard to tune into what others are saying, nod, and offer positive feedback. Also, step out of your comfort zone and take the lead by being the first to volunteer, sign up for a job, or complete a chore.

Too often we become back-seat drivers and criticize when we could help create. By taking the lead you can set a positive example for others and create opportunities for people to pitch in and flourish overall.

But you don’t have to be the President or a CEO to give and accept feedback. Parenting is, perhaps, just as trying of a pursuit, and it can be seen as a lifelong education in giving and accepting feedback. In fact, we did not even discuss being a role model, which is, essentially, being a leader.

Nevertheless, we will leave you with this final thought on developing leadership qualities that will help you win everyday battles. According to Arianna Huffington the single most important thing you can do to improve your chances of being a great leader is to get enough sleep.

And, while this may seem like surprising advice given our work climate that favors long hours, few vacations, and high-stress workplaces, studies show that creativity and a clear head are paramount leadership qualities. Moreover, sleep deprivation has been shown to lead to a lack of focus and careless decision-making, which are the marks of a poor leader.

Perhaps the most important thing to take away here is that great leaders need great followers and cultivating a diverse and active support base is, maybe, just as important as leading itself. Further, if you listen to others, ask questions, and make decisions based on gathered intel instead of whimsy, you might just have the makings of a great leader.