I was speaking to some friends yesterday afternoon. One of them received a job opportunity to lead a team of individuals. He was talking about the differences in his current position where he manages projects and his new position where he leads people. This got me to thinking about what I think makes a good leader.
I believe a good leader is a good listener. You have to understand where your team is coming from. Knowing how the team members work and feel helps you make better decisions. Understanding your team also helps you develop a communication strategy that builds buy-in when change is required.
Second, I believe a good leader is a good communicator. If you have all the best ideas and plans in your head, but cannot explain to people why the plan is good, you will have difficulty getting people to follow. Leading becomes less challenging when your team understands and follows.
What, in your opinion make a good leader?
