Why Leadership is Important for a

Great Life
Whether you are in college or entering the working world, there
will be situations that require you to step up as a leader. Even
outside of your career, there are moments in life where you may
depend on your leadership skills to uplift those around you.
Let’s take a look at how you can develop your leadership skills
while answering the burning question: why is leadership
important?
 
 
What is Leadership?
There is no exact definition for what a leader does. Each leader’s
style of leadership is influenced by their personality and the
challenges that they are faced with.
 
There are, however, some qualities that all good leaders share.
They are:

 Accountability
 Awareness
 Confidence
 Decisiveness
 Empathy
 Focus
 Honesty
 Inspiration
 Optimism
 
 

Photo by Fox from Pexels
 
 
The Importance of Leadership
There are a number of functions that leadership plays in
ensuring the smooth operation of an organization.
 
1. Initiate Action
 
A good leader is a person who actually starts the work that an
organization needs to get done. They will explain the plan of
action to their subordinates and communicate policies that will
need to be complied with when getting the work done.
 
 
2. Offer Guidance
 
While their subordinates may be the ones to execute tasks,
leaders need to be there for them in case they require assistance
along the way. A good leader makes sure to provide guidance
for others so that they can complete tasks effectively and with
minimal hassle.
 
 
3. Inspire
 
A great leader can motivate others to realize their full potentials
and get the job done. There are a number of ways in which a
leader can inspire others to use their initiatives for the good of
the company. This includes potential promotions, pay raises, and
other job perks.
 
 
4. Instill Confidence
 
While some team members may express self-doubts when
approaching new challenges, a good leader will do their best to
provide them with confidence. Listen to team members’
complaints and issues while readily providing positive feedback
on a job well done. Remember to show faith in employees’
abilities.
 
 
5. Build Morale
 
In order for employees to effectively cooperate with one
another, they need to have the willingness to do so. A big part of
earning their willingness to cooperate is by building morale. An
effective leader can boost morale so their team can achieve
optimal cooperation.
 
 
6. Be Role Models
 
Subordinates look towards their leaders as an example of how to
act. A good leader will show their subordinates the right way to
behave and instill enthusiasm for the work they are doing. If
leaders are humble and accountable, subordinates will also learn
to behave this way.
Leaders can also provide team members with a good feel for the
company culture in the process.
 
 
7. Consolidation
 
Leaders can bring together team members in order to work
towards a common goal. This is achieved by coordinating the
efforts of different team members and ensuring that they align
their personal interests with organizational goals.
 
 
8. Spotting Talent
 
Effective leaders are able to recognize the potentials of team
members and will have the ability to select the right people for
the right jobs. This will then allow leaders to trust the people
they have appointed to get the job done correctly.
 
 
9. Public Image
 
Leaders are not only responsible for managing their teammates.
They are also responsible for ensuring that their organizations
have a positive public image. As spokespersons, good leaders
will be sure to present their organizations in a positive light
when spending time in the public eye.
 
 
10. Improved working environment
 
By effectively performing the other functions that have been
listed above, leaders can provide team members with a more
positive and productive working environment.
 
 
Is Leadership a Natural Skill?
There are certainly people who are born with traits that help
them to become great leaders. Having an outgoing personality
can help people to become comfortable in the presence of others
and allow them to take charge.
 
It is important to note, however, that many leadership skills can
be developed over time. All you need is the right training and
the dedication to succeed.
 
Many organizations offer leadership training to their employees,
while schools and universities often offer leadership programs as
well. There are also many leadership courses offered online and
in-person. This means that even if you feel that you do not
naturally possess leadership qualities, it is never too late to learn
them.
 
 
How to Develop Leadership Skills

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
 
 
Even if you are not currently in a leadership position, there are a
number of ways that you can develop your leadership abilities.
 
1. Develop discipline
 
Discipline is a trait that both leaders and employees need to
possess. You can develop your discipline in a number of ways,
such as by meeting work deadlines, sticking to your work
commitments, and showing up at the office on time for work.
 
 
2. Take on more responsibilities
 
To be a leader means being responsible for others as well as
yourself. Asking to receive more responsibilities at work is a
great way of preparing yourself for the increased sense of
responsibility that you will have once you become a leader.
Also, by showing your ability to take on more responsibility,
you can convince your employers that you would be a suitable
choice for future job promotions.
 
 
3. Learn to listen
 
Sometimes, it is wise to listen to other people as a means of
learning new things and improving the work environment. A
good leader is open to hearing feedback, criticism, and
suggestions from their team members. This helps them to learn
from their past errors.
 
 
4. Build awareness
 
To be a good leader, you will need to start looking at the bigger
picture. Think of the potential problems that could arise in
different situations, and develop solutions to combat them in the
case that they occur.
 
 
5. Inspire others
 
Do your best to motivate and encourage teammates to succeed.
This could be done by complimenting them on a job well done,
and by providing them with encouragement and guidance
whenever necessary.
 
 
6. Keep learning
 
The more you learn about new things, the better you can prepare
for tackling new challenges that come your way in the future.
 
 
7. Empower others
 
Delegate some tasks to other people on your team. Not only will
it be beneficial to give tasks to people who specialize in them,
but it also helps to alleviate pressure from yourself.
 
 
8. Resolve conflicts
 
As a leader, it is important to remember that your team members
will not get along all of the time. Be prepared to speak to team
members privately in order to help resolve their problems. Also,
consider assigning team members to other roles if you cannot
manage to resolve the conflict.
 
 
9. Keep a journal about your career
 
Write down all of your work experiences so that you can reflect
on them later. This will allow you to track your
accomplishments as well as your failures. By doing so, you can
determine which areas you are performing well in as well as
where you need to improve.
 
 
10. Find your passion
 
In order to be enthusiastic about your leadership position, you
will have to be passionate about what you do. Think about what
your passions are and try to find work within those areas. If you
are unsure about what your passion is, this worksheet should
provide you with clarity!
 
 
11. Become a leader outside of work
 
If you find that your job does not allow you the opportunity to
become a leader, consider joining a nonprofit organization or a
sports team. Doing these things will allow you the opportunity
to collaborate with other people and practice your leadership
skills.
 
 
12. Observe teams you’re involved in
 
A lot of skills can be learned by observing the behavior of
others. If you are currently involved in a team, then be sure to
observe the behavior of your team’s leader. See which of their
actions work and which ones don’t, and try to learn from their
mistakes so that you don’t make them yourself.
 
 
Importance of Leadership in Life
1. In Business
 
Leaders are able to establish a vision for the company and unite
the organization under it. Leadership includes being open to
learning new things, meaning that entrepreneurs can develop
new ways of thinking so that they can avoid past mistakes.
 
 
2. In Management
 
In order to constantly achieve customer satisfaction, leaders
need to keep staff members motivated so that they can remain
motivated to deliver the best products and services possible.
 
 
3. In the Workplace / Team
 
Today’s workplace is filled with stress. It is therefore important
that leaders build unity and enthusiasm amongst their team
members. Leaders are at the forefront of creating a positive
working environment where team members can feel comfortable
with sharing ideas with their leaders.
 
 
4. In Education
 
Giving students leadership skills is what enables them to pursue
their goals. It provides them with the confidence to take action,
regardless of whether or not they know that such actions will
indeed be successful.
 
 
5. In Society
 
Leaders inspire members of society to pursue their dreams.
Whenever there are activities aimed at uplifting the community,
leaders are the ones who are ensuring their success. By getting
involved in important causes, leaders influence others to do the
same.
 
 
6. In Everyday Life
 
Leadership is something that you implement in your everyday
life, even if you don’t realize it. Examples include creating to-do
lists, preparing children for school, tutoring others, and taking
steps to care about your environment.
 
 
Common Leadership Mistakes
It is important to remember that, even after developing your
leadership skills, mistakes can be made. While confidence is
important, overconfidence can lead to issues, particularly if you
think you can handle every situation on your own. It is important
that you remember to listen to others, be open to suggestions,
and embrace new learning opportunities.
 
 
Where Can You Learn Leadership Skills?
There a number of places where you can learn leadership skills.
 
First, you could take a leadership personality test. This will
show you your leadership strengths and weaknesses. Here’s just
one example of a leadership personality test.
 
You could also take an online course in leadership. Websites
such as Coursera and edX provide courses that you can audit for
free.
 
There are also a number of books focused on
leadership. Leadershift, by John C. Maxwell, is a highly-
recommended book available online.
 
Finally, you could choose to pursue a university degree with a
focus on leadership. This will allow you the opportunity to take
classes that are focused on providing you with the fundamentals
needed for developing your leadership skills.