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Leadership: Art Or Science?

The three major problems that affext most organizations are low morale, high stress and job dissatisfaction. As hard as it might be to believe each one of these problems reflects poor leadership. In spite of the volumes written on the subject of leadership, it seems to elude most of the people in charge of getting work done from others. A good leader focuses on these common but serious problems and finds solutions. It is impossible to get the best out of your subordinates if they are not enthusiastic about their work, because unless they enjoy their work, they will be stressed and strained and will get no job satisfaction.

As a leader it is important to pay special attention to the work ethos of your organization whereby you make sure that each person feels good about his work. In other words, you have to become a caring leader; a leader who does not treat his employees as machines but as human beings with feelings. You need to be a leader who is there for them when they need you yet maintain a distance where it is required. Often leaders make the mistake to take the 'top down leadership' too seriously. That may have worked in the past, but times have changed; you can get more productivity by a caring attitude than through Machiavellian authority. Most of the leadership workshops and seminars stress on new leadership paradigms which are rooted in the empowerment of people.

In order to become an effective leader you need to change. Changing attitudes is never easy, yet when you see the truth it doesn't take much time to change. And, the only way you can see the benefit of caring leadership is by trying it out. Once you put it into practice you will be convinced. Then, it is not difficult to change. All it requires is a strong desire to change and an understanding of what needs to be changed. If you make a conscious effort to become a caring leader, you will become one in no time.

It helps to have a picture of the kind of leader you would like to become. Here are some of the qualities of an effective, enlightened and caring leader that you can try to emulate and put into practice:

* Listen attentively to the workers.
* If you agree, affirm generously and give credit where it is deserved.
* When you don't agree, criticize gently and privately.
* Value the ideas and opinions of others and foster an environment where these ideas are welcome
* Trust the collective wisdom of the group and permit them to make decisions related to increasing their own productivity.
* When you see people doing right, appreciate them and make their contribution known throughout your organization.
* Encourage the employees to achieve their enormous untapped potential.
* Don't feel threatened when people disagree with you.
* Know that the most valuable inventory of any business is people.
* Seek advice of others and act upon it.
* Give credit rather than take credit.
* Take responsibility when things go wrong.
* Above all, have a sense of humor and cultivate this attribute in everything you do.

These are some of the characteristics of an effective and enlightened leader which go a long way in improving morale of the people and increasing productivity.