As the school year comes to a close and the summer months begin, I have more free time, chances to rest and moments for reflection on the past year. The summer has begun with more time for socializing, so I find myself in long phone conversations or hours spent talking with friends face to face.
Lately I find that many of my peers and I are in career transitions. We are working for others, and some of us are even being put in charge as bosses. A common question emerging from these conversations is: What makes a good leader?
In this context, the word “leader” means someone in charge at a place of employment. There have been many TV shows and movies produced and books written that depict the horrors or ridiculousness of a boss and, in general, the term “boss” has a negative connotation.
When someone begins to talk about their employer, it’s generally expected that complaints are sure to follow. And these complaints sometimes are justified. The horror can be a reality, and one person or a couple of people in charge can lead to a torturous existence.
But for all the stress that a few can evoke, rarely do I hear praise for the good leaders, those who motivate others to succeed. I have been lucky to have known a couple of good ones in my work experience and, while they were not perfect, the ways in which they led by example have now shaped my perspective.
One of the most important traits is someone willing to work along with their employees. The best bosses are the hardest workers, often working the longest hours. They are often the first to arrive in the morning and the last to leave in the evening, and they not only set an example for the rest to follow, they let us know that we are all in it together. We all have the same goals and we will achieve those goals together.
The best leaders also are the most passionate. It’s clear in their interactions not just with people in the workplace but with the public that they are the biggest cheerleaders for the organization, and they have clear, achievable goals. Fear is never a strong motivator, so we have freedom in our work. We are not constantly hindered by the worry of getting in trouble or doing something wrong. Hard work and effort are recognized and rewarded.
A good leader is someone who gets to know his or her employees. Before ever talking about work-related material, they always greet me and ask about my family and friends. I have always believed that it helps to understand someone’s personality and background in order to better know what kind of worker they will be.
But a good leader also is able to have fun with employees. Dinners and get-togethers make the workplace enjoyable.
All these traits build an expectation of respect, not just between an employer and employees, but among everyone. Respect is essential to any human interaction and also to maintain any sort of company or organization.
It is my dream to someday become a leader, and I hope that I can keep these traits in mind in order to run an effective organization.
Corin Harpe can be reached at corinharpe@gmail.com.