Great leaders in Australia all have one thing in common – a strong character. Jeff Slayter defines character as the sum of one’s personality, values, and abilities. To be an effective leader, one must work on building up his character and abilities. It means honing these skills and talents until people are magnetically drawn to follow, emulate, and become the leader you are. To do that, we must be learners first.
Jeff Slayter, an Australian expert on management and leadership understands that leaders CAN be made. Here he breaks down what it takes to be a leader with a few easy pointers:
First, change your overall perspective on leaders. Shrug off that impression of leaders as dictators or authoritarians. Today’s modern society calls for a different and more democratic breed of leaders, whether it is in the home, at work, or in the community. Leaders are now more versatile while maintaining their authority as well.
Another attribute of authority is the ability to show compassion where it is due. In a leadership role it is always important to be realistic and straight to the point, but when you deal with people’s emotions and lives, take note on how you would want to be treated if it were you in their place. Take for example a CEO in one of Australia’s top companies who, despite all his power and riches, wouldn’t consider his employees requests, no matter how valid the reason or the plea may be. At his worst year, when he needed his workers the most, they quit on him. You see how building positive relationships matter?
Next, Jeff Slayter knows that a true leader is allowed to make mistakes, but in turn uses them as learning experiences rather than drawbacks to his dignity. That is how good leaders deal with misfortunes as they come. They know how to laugh at themselves and move on. They can have fun, while remaining focused on the task at hand.
Getting in tune with your inner leader is easy once you realize the value of humility. Humility gives you a sense of appreciation towards everything around you. It keeps you away from being too self-confident. Overconfidence becomes a problem when you start oppressing those whom you feel are not as prosperous as yourself. Confidence should be used the right way – by setting an example to those who follow you. You can do this by being the one who initiates. Take the first step, be the role model.
To recap how Australia’s expert Jeff Slayter explains leadership, we now know that it is about refining your character. It’s about redefining your view of leaders in the first place; they are communicators rather than dictators. It’s about showing compassion and understanding towards others. It’s about making mistakes and having fun, without losing the essence of your role. Most importantly, it’s about attaining humility and a deep appreciation for what was, what is, and what can be if you apply yourself correctly. Leadership is not about perfection, it is about constantly building you up to become the best version of yourself.