Everyone is a leader, whether or not, it is a formal position, at home or at work.  We are leaders when we are parents and the heads of the family or spokesperson for our church group; we are leaders when we take charge of a bad situation; and we are leaders when we stand up for what we believe in.

However, it is at work that leadership skills are needed the most.  This is because every employee is a volunteer.  No one is forced to come to work and thus, leaders cannot “make” anyone do anything.  So leadership skills is the lubricant of the organization.  Once employees feel they are valued and respected and there is trust, they will then allow themselves to be influenced by the leaders of the organization.

Leadership is hard work.  As a leader, you are always “switched on”.  Integrity and consistency is how employees build up their confidence in you as a leader.  Leadership is not a business metric, it is not like the sales target you have every quarter or the amount of money you save from restricting unnecessary business travel.  However, it is the fabric that all business metrics will build on.

Only when there are good leaders, will the employees be able to unite towards a common vision, a common goal.  When an organization is united, the business metrics will take care of themselves.

Here are 5 links to blogs and articles of characteristics I find, that are the soul to being an effective leader in the workplace.

Leadership: Intentional Influence
http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/jun2009/ca2009065_772331.htm?chan=careers_managing+index+page_top+stories

Leading When You Don’t Have Formal Authority
http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/demaio/2009/05/leading-when-you-dont-have-for.html

Leadership: Control vs. Influence
http://michaelhyatt.com/2007/09/leadership-control-vs-influence.html

Management by Flying Around
http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/kanter/2009/09/mbfa-management-by-flying-arou.html

5 Employee Motivation Myths Debunked
http://www.entrepreneur.com/humanresources/employeemanagementcolumnistdavidjavitch/article202352.html

What other qualities do you admire in a leader in your organization?