Business Leadership - Principles Of An Effective Leader

The world is in constant pursuit of excellence. Everyone wants the best for themselves and for the society. This therefore demands from any one in position of responsibility to be armed with certain guiding rules; principles,in order to be relevant to the roles. There are leaders everywhere, but only a few are effective. Below are the 7 principles of an effective leader.

First Principle - Know Yourself
‘It is the little things we ignore that matters most in life.’ … anonymous.
Have you ever asked yourself a question like ‘Who am I’.  Leadership involves dealing with people; and people have feelings and emotions which must be respected and safeguarded for positive mutual relationships to be achieved. Before you go out there to start organizing people, it is important to understand yourself first.

Second Principle - Know Your Stuff
Try not to become a man of success but a man of value ….Albert Einstein.
It is important that as a leader you get to understand what is expected of you. Carefully study and understand your role profile. Also get a solid understanding on what is expected of the group you are dealing with.

Third Principle- Practice Effective Communication
Seek to understand then be understood….Stephen R Covey.
Be a great communicator. Know how to communicate with people within and around the Institution. Be approachable, accountable and ready to take responsibility should circumstances demand. Communicate your ideas and tasks and ensure that they are carried out. Establish clear and effective communication channels.

Fourth Principle – Be Decisive.
He who hesitates is lost …Ancient Proverb
This is what separates an effective leader from other crop of leaders. Practice excellent problem solving, planning and decision making skills. Reflect your ideals and challenge the process. Look for avenues to improve the standards of your institution and always be ready to take responsibility.

Fifth Principle – Involve
If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it.  ~ Margaret Fuller
Delete the words I, Me and Myself from your dictionary and replace them with We, Ours and The team. Develop an enviable team spirit that allows all persons to put in their best. When you encourage everyone to work as a team then all of them will learn to take ownership and accountability in their areas of work. As a leader, try to fit in the system. Be part and parcel of the system.

Sixth Principle – Be Prepared to Stand Alone.
‘Sometimes one man with courage is a majority.'  ~ Andrew Jackson
There comes a time when you must stand alone. Be strong, confident and do not settle for

a compromise just to get by. You must be persistent ready to protect the dreams and values that you believe in at all cost.  Take some few extra chances to practice what you believe in and be ready to admit if you make any mistake. Try new things persistently until you notice improvement(s). Have a mindset that focuses on success and be willing to defend your actions.

Seventh Principle – Prayer and Gratitude
‘What if you gave someone a gift and they neglected to thank you for it – would you likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have.’ … Ralph Martson.
There are those moments in life when you will need a source of strength and inspiration bigger than yourself. You will need to draw this strength elsewhere, from a source whose strength is bigger than yours. Learn to be grateful. Be thankful in all circumstances. In your failures you will learn to succeed and in your success you will learn to appreciate the value of such success. Leadership role may make you weary and worn out, but be thankful and smile because out there in the world, you are making a difference.