23 Sep Responsibility of Leaders
Some professionals make a choice or feel a calling to help others through leadership. Some people naturally lead others and are comfortable in this role, and most likely have been since an early age. These professionals have decided to be responsible for the growth, development, performance, and successes of others. They have chosen to work with individual members of a group to form a team, of which the sum is more effective than the parts. Choosing to be a leader, is choosing to be responsible for getting things done, and agreeing to be held accountable when things do not.
Leaders are the shepherds of the company’s culture. Every professional has a hand in creating the culture at their place of work, but it is the responsibility of leadership to guide that creation to the right place. Leaders must understand and embody the mission statement and the attitudes and culture, whether it be a company, a household, a group of friends, or a nation.
Leaders must ensure that professionals in their care understand the company mission statement and the goals of the group. All of this takes work and time above and beyond the things a leader must do in his her or job. A good leader should understand that although there may be a hierarchy in their company, that does not necessarily mean that their altitude is something to lord over others, rather it is a role that requires great care and attention to everyone. Leaders have accepted the responsibility of both doing their own job, and managing his or her team to do theirs better, and thus produce results.
If taking on the responsibility for the growth, development, well-being, and productivity of other professionals in the company sounds like a worthwhile and fulfilling pursuit, then this path may be for you. You can start by making sure you understand the basics of your own job. Work to understand all of the component parts and pieces, the definitions of words, how ideas and concepts apply to what your area produces specifically.
Learn to do your job with little or no mistakes or re-work, and work to understand how what you do fits into the plan for the team, the group, or the company. You must help and motivate others to strive for excellence in all that they do. You must plan for success, and then have a backup plan for when unforeseen circumstances come into play and the plan has to change.
A leader’s success and effectiveness are measured in how much the group can accomplish. A leader’s victories belong to his or her team, and the team’s losses belong solely to the leader. A leader makes the work environment safe, is willing to listen and learn, makes sure things get done, and makes sure his or her people are having fun and that morale is high and productivity is running smoothly and effectively.
Above all, you must remember to improve the lives of the professionals in your care first. If a leader can improve the lives of his or her people, then the rest will fall in place.