Could you guess what equal rights movements, a pride of lions and a big corporation have in common? Think of the thing that connects their members, ideas and makes them work together. Even though it might be an odd set, the essential matter that they share is, of course, a leader – a word known by everyone, but not always understood properly. Leaders make the world go round and initiate processes, that often significantly change our lives and way of thinking.
Since time immemorial, we’ve encountered hundreds of thousands of both righteous and despicable personas, who were and still are excessively studied. This vital insight helps us understand the motives behind their actions and how they achieved what they planned to do.
But, as everything happens for a reason, leaders are successful thanks to the traits they have, the experience they gather, and the knowledge they obtain. This tells us that it’s completely attainable with a little bit of hard work.
So, as the inspirational Hellen Keller – a brilliant and strong civil rights leader – once said:
The right qualities, plan of action and a sprinkle of inspiration are a recipe for victory! That being said, stay with me until the end, because you’ll find a useful guide on how to become a successful leader!
LEADER – Who exactly is that?
To put it simply – a leader sees the vision, understands it and does everything to inspire, and push others towards it. Successful leaders share a lot of similarities, most of which come down to the features of their character. But what exactly makes them so distinctive? Let’s narrow this topic down, shall we?
Traits of greatness
It’s important to know if we’re destined to be a leader and what can be improved to make sure this function is performed well. Since it is a substantially popular topic, a large amount of helpful information that answers all possible questions, can be found almost everywhere. Wanting to be nothing but a reliable source of great knowledge, I’ll make use of research on the qualities of a good leader conducted at the University of Benin (2018).
Here are some of them, presented as principals based on the answers of top management positions from such backgrounds as banking, construction and information technology industries.
Dedication
Great leaders know truly what they want and work for it with every fibre of their being. They may seem completely swallowed by the goals they set, but it is that commitment that gets them where they aim to be.
Confidence
Pretty self-explanatory. A leader without confidence is like a bird without wings. Many would even consider this quality as a bridge that allows them to overcome every setback a leader may come across.
Attentiveness
A successful leader should be able to actively listen to people, their needs and requirements. He or she should strongly motivate others to accomplish desired goals.
Originality
In today’s world, in which overstimulating and repetitive content is present on a daily basis, people constantly search for something fresh, something never-seen-before. Those who provide such creativity become pioneers in their fields.
Team Spirit
Leaders, ought to take responsibility for their actions, demonstrate exceptional team-building skills, and empower their followers to take control of their own destinies.
How do people view leadership?
Controversial as it may seem, we are a part of the animal world and the thing that shows it clearly, is our passion and need for forming communities. Everybody has their special tasks to perform, but aside from their yearning to do so, there’s a glue that keeps it together – a good leader. That’s exactly why so many people look up to them. Their strong moral principles and charisma are one of the many qualities that are admired by hundreds.
They made it!
Successful leaders occur in various fields, from historic events to IT companies. Here are some real-life stories of inspirational leaders, a description of their goals, and a depiction of their character.
Mahatma Gandhi
Widely known for his nonviolent approach to political issues, pushed an unbelievable amount of people towards his idea of an independent India. The passion that had driven him into his every action, was so radiant, that when he decided to protest against the unjust British salt monopoly, his supporters walked with him in the Salt March (1930) without a second thought. He’s the epitome of commitment and groundbreaking, at that time, attitude. Most importantly, he wasn’t scared of life and its unpredictability.
Mahatma Gandhi in 1931. (2024, May 5). https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mahatma-Gandhi
Oprah Winfrey
She’s one of the most influential and multi-award-winning media figures, an entrepreneur, and a role model for many women and minority members. Her lifetime goal still is to successfully advocate for those without a voice as powerful as hers. Being a victim of sexual abuse, struggling with poverty and teenage pregnancy in the past made her resilient. She doesn’t hide what she’s gone through, instead, she uses her experiences to connect with others.
She has wanted to be famous since high school and for that, she treated every obstacle as an opportunity. Becoming a morning show host seemed like a failure to her at first, however, with enough ambition to control her image and make the most of any situation, she soon managed to flourish in the industry. Apart from being a skilled orator, her authenticity is what inspires people to this day.
Oprah Winfrey speaks onstage during the 2023 ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on June 30, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Essence)
Steve Jobs
A true pioneer in his field, who pushed boundaries with every idea and launched a project, thought of by many as a natural-born leader. What made him so special was his strong attitude – he never felt like a failure and always saw everything he did in the bigger picture. Despite dropping out of law at Reed College, he stayed there for 18 months and decided to attend a calligraphy course – the best in the country at that time. It would seem that it would have no practical use at all, but 10 years later Apple’s first Mac computer had a never-seen-before typography. All thanks to his ambition to learn more and more and turn that gained knowledge into something innovative.
He never gave up and, as charismatic as he was, he stayed committed to his dream.
Steve Jobs Holding an iPhone, 2010. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) https://www.britannica.com/money/Steve-Jobs
Serena Williams
When thinking of leaders, various sports champions come to our minds as well. Serena Williams is regarded as one of the best tennis players of all time, as she holds a total of 39 major titles, making her an absolute record-breaker. She became successful thanks to her father’s extensive coaching and, most importantly, hard work. She debuted professionally at 14 and forever changed women’s tennis with her powerful style of play.
To this day she inspires many with her successful career and what she did after her retirement. Serena hasn’t stopped pushing forward and decided to realize other dreams, which were her own inclusive clothing line “S by Serena”, philanthropy and activism. Williams’ foundation opened schools in Kenya and provides scholarships to underprivileged students in the US. As for her involvement in social matters, she’s advocating for gender equality in sports and racial justice.
Serena Williams holding her trophy at the Australian Open Tennis Championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017. (Dita Alangkara) https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/marta-kostyuk-wins-australian-open-junior-girls-title/
Malala Yousafzai
She’s a Pakistani activist, who devoted her life to spreading awareness about women’s rights. She started advocating against the Taliban prohibition on girls’ education in her teenage years, which resulted in her media appearances. Unfortunately, her activism almost cost her life, as she was shot at the age of 15. After surviving the attack, she didn’t hold back and continued to work on her goal. Malala worked as a BBC blogger and was awarded prizes, such as Pakistan’s first National Youth Peace Prize and the Nobel Peace Prize (making her the youngest Nobel laureate!).
The Malala Fund was established in 2013 to support the work of educators and make proper girls’ education around the world happen. Her remarkable perseverance and empathy ignite valuable changes and encourage others to create a better world together.
Malala Yousafzai gives a speech after receiving the RAW (Reach All Women) in War Anna Politkovskaya Award at the Southbank Centre in London October 4, 2013. (Luke MacGregor/Reuters) https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/10/malala-yousafzais-global-reach/280386/
Inside an expert’s mind
It’s crucial to remain concentrated and educated on the topic one is most interested in and on which one focuses his/her personal development. That’s where an expert’s opinion comes in handy. I asked several leadership specialists two questions:
- ‘What does it mean for You to be a successful leader?’
- ‘What are some common challenges leaders face?’
Here is one of the answers, which gives a unique and useful insight into the complex world of leaders.
Wiktor Tokarski (http://www.wiktortokarski.pl/) – business coach: Being an effective leader is all about being able to inspire and motivate a team to achieve its goals, as well as being able to adapt to changing circumstances and anticipate future challenges. What’s more an effective leader is distinguished by high emotional intelligence, the ability to build relationships based on trust and the ability to delegate tasks. It’s a person who brings out the best in people and represents an individual approach to them, which translates into better results and efficiency.
Become one of the successful leaders!
If you aspire to be a successful leader as well, then I prepared something special that will help you achieve that goal. One thing is the natural ability to be a leader, and the second thing – the hard work behind becoming one. Everything is a result of a process and it’s up to you how much passion you’ll put into it. Here are some useful tips on how to perfect your leadership skills with a set of professional courses that are bound to change your life!
1. Constantly improve!
Depending on the area of your interest, stay informed and educated about adequate issues. Never stop gaining new knowledge, take risks and take advantage of every experience. Only this way, you’ll be able to significantly improve not only as a leader but as a human being.
2. Work on self-awareness!
Understand both your strengths and weaknesses, as it is the foundation of all your actions. Without realizing your features, you cannot work effectively, resolve possible conflicts, and be an authentic leader.
3. Have courage!
All knowledge and the world’s resources mean nothing if you’re not sure of what you believe in. Be confident, don’t be fearful of coming out of your comfort zone, and be as persuasive as you can be, because how else can you completely commit to your goals and achieve them successfully?
4. Don’t give up!
Treat every setback as a chance to improve. Worrying too much about your failures or people’s criticism won’t get you anywhere. That way not only you live a more peaceful life, but also be an inspiration for those who may look up to you.
5. Focus on communication!
Don’t lose sight of people around you, who help you achieve your shared goal. A successful leader listens actively, understands the needs of all team members and expresses himself appropriately. What’s more, provide feedback at all times.
Kursy zawodowe
Becoming a successful leader may be a demanding journey, especially when you decide to go through it on your own. However, it doesn’t have to be though with the help of some thoroughly constructed courses.
Harvard University’s ‘Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles’ course – introduces strategies for leading in a changing world, where adaptive pressures persist. You’ll learn to navigate complex organizational systems and take purposeful action. Most importantly, you’ll reflect on advancing leadership in areas you’re passionate about.
Harvard University’s ‘Inclusive Leadership for a Diverse Workplace’ course – helps discover how to redefine leadership for today’s diverse workforce, translate inclusive behaviours into lasting actions to boost cultural awareness and foster inclusive environments.
Alex Lyon’s ‘Leadership Foundations: Leadership Styles and Models’ course – discusses various authority styles, from autocratic to laissez-faire, action and communication approaches, and models of responsibility like servant leadership. What’s more, it emphasizes prioritizing authenticity, purpose, and empathy for maximum leadership success.
Stay focused on your goals and constantly improve, and one day you’ll be remembered as a successful leader!
Sources:
Biography: Serena Williams. (n.d.). National Women’s History Museum. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/serena-williams
Blumberg, N. (2024, April 26). Malala Yousafzai | Biography, Nobel Prize, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Malala-Yousafzai
Malala Fund. (n.d.). Malala Fund | Working for a world where all girls can learn and lead. https://malala.org/
Nallalingham, L. (2023, April 18). The Power of Authenticity: Lessons from Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-authenticity-lessons-from-oprah-winfreys-lee-nallalingham/
Olanrewaju, O. I., & Okorie, V. N. (2019). Exploring the qualities of a good leader using principal component analysis. Journal of Engineering, Project, and Production Management, 9(2), 142-150. https://doi.org/10.2478/jeppm-2019-0016
Sharma, R. (2022, December 6). Why do people look up to leaders? https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-do-people-look-up-leaders-rahul-sharma/
Sullivan, J. (n.d.). Steve Jobs Holding an iPhone, 2010. https://www.britannica.com/money/Steve-Jobs
Wikipedia contributors. (2024, April 26). Serena Williams. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serena_Williams
Zitelmann, R. (2022, October 12). The seven secrets of Oprah Winfrey’s success. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rainerzitelmann/2020/01/27/the-seven-secrets-of-oprah-winfreys-success/?sh=45e3675f13a1
