How To Be A Positive Leader

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

How To Be A Positive Leader

How To Be A Positive Leader…. Delegate

A positive leader is able to delegate or assign tasks and duties to others.  Delegation requires both foresight and insight to choose those who can successfully fulfill their duties and complete the tasks assigned to them.  Insight is the ability to see to the heart of a matter.  In other words, you are able to look past extraneous or irrelevant information and focus on what’s really important.  Foresight is the ability to anticipate the outcome of a situation based on present facts.

 How To Be A Positive Leader…Prioritize

A positive leader must be able to rank things in order of importance.  This skill requires thinking about what needs to be done and doing what is most necessary first.  For example, you were elected city mayor and the three top issues to deal with were:

a. Citizens want more entertainment venues within the city.

b. Citizens want better roads & infrastructure throughout the city.

c.  Citizens want a city where there is no violence.

How would you prioritize these issues in order of importance?  Of course (c) should be prioritized or ranked as the most important issue to be considered.  A safe community will be of greater benefit to the citizens than paved roads or more entertainment.

How To Be A Positive Leader…Mediate

A positive leader is able to mediate or find a middle ground in conflict situations.  A conflict is a problem between two or more people that arises because they misunderstand or disagree with each other.  A positive leader is one who can intervene in such situations to help find a peaceful resolution.  By doing so the conflict will not become violent or aggressive.

Mediation requires several different skills, the first being that you must be willing to take the initiative to help others agree on a peaceful solution.  You must also be able to actively and objectively listen to all sides of a situation and offer suggestions that are fair and impartial.  This requires patience and self-control.  When mediating, it is up to you, as a positive leader, to remain calm and not take sides.  Your role is to make sure that those who are having the conflict respect each other both verbally and physically and find peaceful ways to solve their differences.

How To Be A Positive Leader…Take Initiative

Taking initiative clearly defines leadership abilities.  To take initiative is to take the first step to solving a problem or accomplishing a task.  Problem solving could be in the form of an idea or actual physical labor.  It may also mean encouraging and motivating others to be part of the solution.

To take initiative, you must be able to assess that there is a problem that needs a solution and then be willing to take action.  This takes courage and decisiveness.  You must also be willing to seek permission from the appropriate authority before following through on your plan.  For example, you see that bullying is a problem on the job and you want to promote respect and tolerance, as well as form a support group for co-workers who are being bullied.  Taking the initiative would mean getting permission and guidance from your direct supervisor on how to promote tolerance and form a support group.  To take initiative requires positive character traits.

How To Be A Positive Leader…Actively Listen

Another important aspect of communication is, believe it or not, listening.  Communication generally involves three (3) main components of which listening plays an essential role.  First, there is the giving of information, which is usually done by speaking.  Then, there is the receiving of information.  This is the listening component.  Finally, there is a response based on how the information was heard and interpreted.

Poor listening skills lead to poor communication.  By using active listening you can greatly minimize misunderstandings.  Active listening involves using your ears, eyes and heart to “hear” not only the words that the speaker is saying, but to discern the underlying intention of what is being said.  In other words, a person is actively listening when he hears the speaker’s words and tone of voice, sees the body language and facial expressions and is aware of the emotional state of the individual.

Positive, effective leaders learn how to incorporate all of this into the way they communicate and listen. Active listening is a powerful tool that can be utilized in the following situations:

>  De-escalation of arguments.

>  Imparting understanding and acceptance.

>  Gaining insight and knowledge of an individual or situation.

How To Be A Positive Leader…Communicate Effectively

Have you ever tried to communicate without saying anything, like when you are playing charades?  Difficult isn’t it?  Effective communication is very important and serves as the foundation of interaction.  Communication can be defined as the process by which information is exchanged between individuals.  The key word in this definition is exchange.  Information must be given and received, much like a two-way street, for communication to occur.

There are many different ways to communicate.  The two most commonly used are: verbal and written.  Many people find it easier to express themselves verbally than through writing  However, verbal communication is not as simple as it appears to be.  It incorporates several other factors such as tone of voice, facial expressions, body language and active listening.

Learning How To Be A Positive Leader Can Yield Great Benefits In Your Life!

Source:  The Peaceful Solution Character Education Program

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Kelsey & Miranda Simon

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