Leadership qualities, their identification and development

Each of us dreams of becoming a true leader. After all, this opens up great prospects in life: good career growth, high earnings, prospects and power, respect and a well-deserved podium. In order to achieve all this, it is necessary to develop leadership qualities in yourself from childhood, which will lead to your dream and serve as the foundation for the fulfillment of desires.

Who are the people following?

Let's first figure out who usually leads the crowd? For whom, casting aside unnecessary doubts and fears, does the common people follow? Let us recall just a few examples from history: Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Pinochet... While listing them, we invariably think that only awe of a dictator can rouse the masses and lead them into battle. But this is absolutely not true. Ordinary people would never die just because of their cowardice to rise up and go against tyranny. So what is the secret of these cruel and merciless dictators?

Psychologists say: "In order to lead the masses, you must first of all have a bright charisma, individuality, have creative thinking, gush with ideas and be able to put into practice others." Leadership qualities are manifested in perseverance and invincibility. Such people can easily rally a team of like-minded people around themselves, they are purposeful and responsible, which is what they require from their subordinates. Leaders are not always tyrants. Often they are kind and noble, such as Princess Diana and Nelson Mandela, who bribe the people with their responsiveness and sacrifice, so they often become real martyrs.

The Fine Line: Leader or Tyrant

It is very easy to turn a strong personality into a dictator. For example, in an ordinary family a little boy was born. Already at the age of four, he plays with his relatives in the "commander": he commands and sets conditions. Adults are touched: "What a smart kid, a real president will grow out of him!" The future "head of state", once in the kindergarten, begins to apply the usual model of behavior in the team: he constantly demands his own, is capricious, pushes his peers around. Children turn away from him. The teacher, whom the baby is also trying to manipulate, takes him into "hedgehogs" and stops dictatorial behavior.

The parents are outraged. They complain about the teacher, accusing him of suppressing the "leadership qualities of the child." What happens to the boy next? He withdraws into himself, becomes an outcast. They set him up as an example - he rejoices, they scold him - he abandons the unfinished business. He has no friends, as he considers everyone gray mediocrity. Studies and careers fail. Frustrated parents turn away from him. A boy who does not know how to realize himself, becoming an adult man, becomes an inveterate drunkard or becomes a criminal. Of course, the situation does not always end so badly, but, according to psychologists, there are plenty of examples of such a development of events.

How to raise a leader?

If you notice that your child tends to be firm in his convictions, has an inner core, first of all direct his energy in the right direction. Write him down in a sports circle: physical exercises will strengthen morale, teach you how to overcome difficulties and go straight to the goal. In addition, the development of leadership qualities also provides for the parallel improvement of communication skills. To teach your baby to communicate correctly, send him to a nursery from a very young age. If he has conflicts, do not blame other children. Try to calmly understand the situation, first point out to the child his mistakes and ask them to correct them.

The ability to communicate effectively develops throughout a person's life. The main thing is that the first failures do not break the child. Therefore, your wise analysis and calmness will help him to improve relations with his peers, especially if several leaders have formed in the team who are constantly in conflict. Emphasize the child's individual qualities that distinguish him from others. But don't overdo it. The child should not boast and brag about them, but develop them so that in the future the inclinations of childhood grow into the leadership qualities of a teenager.

What qualities should be developed first?

Diligence and dedication - what you should pay attention to the baby already in kindergarten. The formation of these qualities will last right up to the end of elementary school. Tell your child that you should always set goals for yourself, and then achieve them. At the same time, only hard work, faith in one's strength and a great desire will lead to the desired goal.

Talk to the baby: let him constantly express his opinion and learn to listen to yours. Children-leaders start talking early, they are interested in spending time in the company of adults. Use it. Give the child the opportunity to speak out: so he will learn to formulate his thoughts and competently conduct a conversation. Teach him to be restrained and tactful at the same time.

The development of leadership qualities in early childhood is not about pressure on the baby and not imposing your ideals, because this is how you bring up a tyrant or a lack of initiative performer. This is learning, dialogue, making common decisions, compromise. And yet - already in the kindergarten, teach the child to play with dignity and correctly. Convince him that the fall is an incentive to rise and prove his strength and invincibility.

Parenting a teenager

Having matured, your son or daughter continues to develop leadership qualities. Children 12-13 years old already know how to analyze the current situation. Encourage this trait. Sit down and work through an event together. Let the child unwind this situation like a ball of thread, looking for the causes and consequences of the circumstances. This is how a teenager will develop his memory, analytical skills and consistency - the necessary qualities for every adult leader.

It is at this age that children begin to empathize with other people, find words of consolation, and offer help. On this property, which is called empathy, you should focus your attention and help the child to show it in different life circumstances. The future leader must be sincere, virtuous and understanding, be able to sympathize. These qualities, by the way, are the main component of emotional intelligence, which is now more important abroad when writing a resume and applying for a job than the IQ level.

Parent example

The formation of leadership qualities often occurs under the influence of adults. If dad or mom is a leader, then it will be easier for the baby to become one too. Children tend to copy the behavior of adults. The main thing is that at the same time adults do not show the negative qualities of a leader, such as dictatorship, aggression, disrespect for subordinates, and so on.

Efficiency - is also adopted from parents. If you constantly lie on the couch and whine that life has failed, believe me, your baby will do the same in the future. If he sees that the well-being of the family, the financial situation directly depend on the activity, he will make every effort to achieve them. Even if the leader grows up in a wealthy family, you should not indulge him with extra pocket money. Let him earn them himself: he will help his father in the garage or his mother with the housework. Some psychologists scold such monetary and commodity relations between family members: they say that children grow up with the idea that it is necessary to clean not just like that, but for money. Other experts are sure that such a situation is better than when a teenager believes that everyone around him owes him.

By your behavior and way of life, you can teach your baby other leadership qualities. Do not infringe on him, while such "green" ideas about the world and life, on the contrary, correct them and hone them.

Negative trends: how to prevent?

How to develop leadership qualities, you already know. What to do to prevent the despotism of the baby? First, if you notice a child's tendency to command, be sure to stop him. Secondly, while doing this, do not give in to impulsiveness. Watch the intonation of the voice - it should always be calm. You are an impenetrable tank, the armor of which does not give in to hysteria and the demands of the offspring. Your uncontrolled emotions are a favorable environment for the development of tyrannical character traits. Instead, take a couple of deep breaths, mentally count to ten, and only then calmly answer: "We'll discuss this when you calm down." Next, turn away and leave the baby alone with him, so that he thinks everything over and draws the right conclusions.

The future leader must understand that shouting and violence will never achieve anything. Teach him to respect the opinions and needs of other people, even if they go against his own. Let him understand that the ability to agree and make concessions will lead him to the desired goal much faster than hysteria and uncontrollable emotions.

What kind of leader can a child be?

There are many types of leaders. Everyone gets the primacy depending on the positive character trait that dominates in him. The theory of leadership qualities provides for the following options for leaders, those who are followed and whom they are trying to follow:

• Leader performer. The most responsible person. He is appreciated and encouraged for his ability to do everything on time, to fulfill his duties conscientiously.
• Leader-organizer. Such people often work as administrators or directors. They perfectly plan work, distribute duties between subordinates.
• Intellectual leader. A creative employee, on whose ideas the development of the company depends, the promotion of goods on the market.
• Critic leader. Analyzes the situation, determines its strengths and weaknesses.
• Emotional leader. Better than him, no one knows how to rally the team, develop friendly relations between employees, create a harmonious atmosphere in the office.

The theory of leadership qualities described in psychology does not imply that your child has all the qualities. If you notice that one or two dominate, focus on them. Work on their development and improvement.

What should be the leader?

Basic leadership qualities are laid down at an early age. But if for some reason the parents did not raise them in the child, becoming an adult, he can develop them in himself on his own. For example, perspective vision. Each leader must accumulate knowledge and experience in order to anticipate a critical situation, be able to make forecasts, which is very important in business. The ability to listen is another valuable character trait. A born leader must understand that he cannot be an expert in all areas. Finding the right employees, joining their efforts and achieving the goal - this is his main task.

A true leader is always self-critical. He knows how to admit his mistakes, to apologize if he is wrong. To study and study again is the main "commandment" of the leader. The ability to be flexible, adapt, focus on innovations in a particular area is a guarantee of the success of any enterprise. A true boss must be determined, energetic and courageous. He is always an example for his subordinates.

Additional qualities

To be not only feared and respected, but also loved and appreciated, you need to learn to be generous. Sharing earnings with partners, encouraging employees with bonuses are very important qualities of a boss. It is also good if he knows how to ignite people, to stimulate them to work. Not only one's own determination, but also the "fire in the eyes" of subordinates can bring success and profit to the company.

The leadership qualities of a leader are also his positive outlook on life, optimism, and humor. A good joke, a skillfully told anecdote, a funny life story - a good start to the working day, which creates a pleasant atmosphere for work in the office. If you are in a very high position, do not be arrogant, do not be proud. Know how to "go out to the people": picnics held with subordinates, corporate parties and birthday celebrations will help you with this. The leader must always understand that he is the same person as all his employees. At any moment he can lose everything and be in their place.

Should you educate a leader?

As you can see, the main character traits of the future leader are laid from the cradle. But the identification of leadership qualities is a process that requires deep analysis, attentiveness and observation. After all, the speed of reactions and activity in a baby do not always indicate that you have a future leader in front of you. They can be just the consequences of the active work of the nervous system. Therefore, look closely at the baby for a long time before "cutting" the president or minister out of him. According to statistics, only 5% of kids can become leaders. Therefore, your extra efforts that do not bring results will cause you anger and disappointment, and your child will have an inferiority complex and self-doubt.

At the family council, sort out the character of the heir, make the right decision: is it worth it or not to educate a leader? Perhaps your child does not need it at all. And the limit of his dreams is a quiet rural life with a bunch of kids. Respect the wishes of the child. After all, the most important thing is to educate in him a decent person, kind and sympathetic. If he is a leader from birth, then his qualities of a leader and leader will somehow manifest themselves in any case.