Effective leaders build excellence, they do not command it. Excellence is “being the best that you can be” within the limits of your responsibilities. To achieve excellence in school, you and your teachers must have character trait of a good leader. Excellence starts with having leaders who have good and strong character who fit into the whole process of leadership.
Good leaders possess traits which are the basis for their move toward certain situations. Though the list of leaders’ desirable traits is practically infinite, here are some of the most effective traits in helping leaders motivate others in guiding them towards new direction according to the book Developing Effective Leaders.
Integrity
Integrity means doing the right thing at all times and in all circumstances, whether or not anyone is watching. It takes having the courage to do the right thing, no matter what the consequences will be. Leaders should be truthful and just. Integrity builds a basis for cultivating trust within an organization.
Loyalty
The difference between good and great leadership can be expressed in a single word: loyalty. A leader should demonstrate an incontestable show of loyalty before they can look forward to their staff to be loyal to him/her.
Commitment
A leader must show strength of the feeling of responsibility that an employee has towards the mission of the organization.
Energy
Energy is an eagerness and determination to take the initiative. Individual energy, especially of leaders, influences organizational energy. It is the extent to which an organization has mobilized its emotional, cognitive, and behavioural potential to pursue its goal.
Decisiveness
Decisiveness is the willingness to make decisions, even in the face of complexity or uncertainty. A leader must be self-confident in making the right decisions at the right time. Leaders should be accountable for what they have decided upon, even if they have made the wrong decisions.
Selflessness
Selflessness is foregoing personal ambitions for bigger reasons. Selflessness includes the guts to face and conquer obstacles, and make the hard decisions. The ability to confront a tough situation head on rather than avoiding it by passing the decision to someone else requires courage and strength.
By: Anna Liza D. Salas | Teacher III | Limay National High School | Limay, Bataan
