5 qualities of a good leader

This is the season for change. Many Malaysian political parties are getting ready for general assemblies to elect or, re-elect new leaders. In places like the U.S., financial crisis has also brought into stark relief leadership qualities of political and economic leadership.

It is, therefore, pertinent to renew the inquiry into the elements that make a good and, effective leader. The key qualities that a leader must have, have been debated time and again. The list can be rather long. My short-list are:
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1. Vision
A leader must have a vision. That means having a reasonably clear idea of where you want to take the country or company. It is best to be able to put on paper exactly what that vision is. If you can't put your vision in writing, then it is likely that you don't have one.

2. Communication
A leader needs to have the skill to communicate his or her vision. Without communication skills your followers and the rest of the stakeholders whose lives and careers you affect, will have no clue about the direction you are taking the party or company. This will create dysfunction and, likely discord.

3. Passion
A leader must have passion. As a leader, you have to show your team that you want to accomplish the goal badly. Your passion will drive them towards the goal and achieve your vision.

4. Decision-making
A leader must be a great decision maker. Often, leaders face times of crisis or great pressure where they are forced to make quick decisions. A leader must have this skill. This quality includes team building skills. The ability to delegate responsibility to team members is important. But be careful not to abdicate control. A leader needs to project trust. But, the trust is conditional upon the need for feedback and follow-up action. This means maintaining the action as an agenda for the next meetings until the task is completed. Otherwise, dysfunction and discord will set in.

5. Character
A leader must have character. This means being able to project not only strength but, virtue. If the leader is corrupt and crony-laden (this applies to politics and business), followers will mirror these qualities. A selfish leader cannot inspire virtue. He can project strength, of course, through fear and intimidation. But the values will be negative ones. Loyalty will be at a premium.

In the real world that we live in we see many leaders having some of these qualities but the absence of others. No one is perfect. Perhaps the idea is to identify a leader or, be a leader with the least imperfection.