MRO Today - Traits of strong leadership

Traits of strong leadership

by Bill Gaw

There is clearly a link between management and leadership. Management is task and process oriented, whereas leadership deals with getting people to do what needs to be done. Managers are task oriented.

This becomes increasingly difficult when the rules keep changing. The customer's expectations, the competitive pressure, the demands of the owners, technological progress, new governmental regulations all increase managerial stress. It takes leadership to survive under these circumstances. Leadership is coping with change, whereas management is coping with complexity. The capable leader is one who can lead others through difficult situations where significant changes are taking place.

It is possible to analyze the behavior of competent leaders and characterize their traits. The following traits are identifiable and can be learned.

Physical Characteristics
Most people would acknowledge that many leaders have "the look." They tend to have that tall, lean, attractive appearance. Most business leaders work hard on maintaining an image of health and robustness.

They work out, jog, diet and take care of personal grooming and wardrobe. They feel that being attractive is part of their charisma, and since attractiveness is influence, and influence is power, that they increase their ability to lead. Attractiveness does hold significant initial influence over others, but by itself, is not a critical trait. To name some famous leaders who were not acknowledged to possess high physical attractiveness: Mahatma Gandhi, Golda Meir, and Yasser Arafat.

Drive
Leaders seem to have an enthusiasm that infects others. They make the task seem attainable and desirable to others. They are ambitious, persistent, and energetic, and above all, take the initiative for change.

Motivation
They want to be the leader, and are uncomfortable in nonleadership roles. Julius Caesar indicated that he would rather be the No. 1 person in a small town than No. 2 person in Rome.

Self-confidence
This is perhaps the most important trait. Leaders who are confident of their abilities to attain a positive outcome, convince others that they should follow their lead. Self-confidence is also infectious and imparts a degree of enthusiasm and optimism into the situation.

Knowledge
Leaders have to know their jobs, their business and the environment that they are working in. One cannot lead without direction and vision of where they are going.

Stress tolerance
Since leadership is most critical in rapidly changing situations, and since change causes stress, it follows that capable leaders possess a high level of stress tolerance, to keep cool under fire, to keep one's head when, all about, others are losing theirs. Capable leaders are able to maintain focus under strenuous conditions.

Integrity
A vital ingredient in a leader's ability to lead is the confidence, or trust, on the part of those being led, that the result of their efforts is in their best interests. The leader must possess the integrity to be trustworthy and not betray or exploit them.

Communication skills
The skillful leader has the ability to make his or her intentions known in a clear and unambiguous manner.

They are able to direct others concisely so as to leave no room for misinterpretation or doubt. They direct in a supportive, non-threatening way, focusing on the job to be done and their confidence in doing it.

Most capable leaders are also recognized as excellent public speakers.

Attention to task
A leader cannot lead without knowing where to lead. They have a priority on getting the job done in such a way as to protect their resources and preserve their role as leaders. Whereas a non-leader type might chew up resources, including people, in getting a job done, a leader is able to innovate activity that solves the task problem and conserves resources.

Team preservation
A leader regards group members as valuable friends, each of whom has important skills that need to be utilized and added to. A great deal of attention is given to the well being and concern for those group members, including their individual needs and satisfaction, as well as how they get along with other team members. It is important to preserve the harmony and stability of the group in order for the leader to maintain his or her position.

Role playing
Leaders have learned to play different roles in different situations. Perhaps this skill is based on childhood activities and games but it is certainly a learned skill. They may take the role of teacher, coach or dictator. This allows them to deal with different group members, peers or superiors in different ways.

If leaders possess certain skills, and role playing is one of those skills, then anyone who can role play can learn to be a leader. While it may be difficult for an individual to change their personality, it is possible for them to learn and practice each of the above traits.

As they become more proficient and gain confidence in playing the role of leader, their personality gradually changes, and they become more comfortable in the leadership role.

Bill Gaw’s manufacturing experience spans more than 35 years. During those years, Bill has held positions as a shop expeditor, production planner, buyer, manufacturing manager, director and president. Bill has participated in four successful financial turnarounds. For additional information, click here: Good Manufacturing Practices.