The 12th trait of a leadership legacy is: A leader is responsible.
What does responsible mean? Too many it merely means being responsible for one’s self and actions; however, as a leader it means quite a bit more. In order to be an effective leader you have to be responsible for not only yourself but everyone you lead as well. In addition, part of that responsibility includes making sure everyone on your team succeeds and excels. Leaders take responsibility for their actions and take their responsibilities seriously. They do not make half-hazard commitments and they do not let their team down; and if they do, they accept full responsibility.
“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today”. ~ Abraham Lincoln
In order to become a responsible leader, individuals must possess the following personality characteristics:
• Listening – To be an effective leader, it is important that you understand the value in what others have to say. Valuable insight can be gained by simply taking the time to listen. Every great leader throughout history understood the importance of listening to others.
• Empathy – A leader should always understand the feelings and different perspectives that their employees have. This will help you create an environment where individuals feel free to share their feelings and ideas.
• Self-Awareness – A successful leader should never lose sight of their personal strengths, weaknesses and values. Remaining self-aware will help you, as a leader, remain faithful to your beliefs and never perform in a way that your belief system will be placed in jeopardy.
• Persuasion – To become a successful leader you should possess the ability to persuade others either through your words or actions. The ability to persuade can help you meet your desired goals while maintaining a level of cooperation and cohesiveness among members of your team.
• Intuition – Our intuition is one of the most important tools that we have. Great leaders trust their instincts above anything else. They put great stock into what they feel will work and know that they are making the best possible decision.
“One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes… and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility”. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
It takes a strong person to be a responsible leader; as Sigmund Freud said so eloquently “Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.” This is why being a responsible leader is so important; it helps remove the burden from others who do not want to be responsible for making decisions and it sets you apart from the rest. Whether they are positive or negative, the majority of people are reluctant to take on a leadership role, because of the high level of dedication and responsibility it requires.
Take Responsibility
As a leader, it is important that you personally take responsibility for your team. This means that in order to ensure success, you must personally encourage the team to succeed. If there is a problem during the course of a project, as leader you should assume full responsibility for that particular problem. Never place blame on another, this will only cause your credibility and trust to suffer among members of your team. When you achieve a goal, you should share that positivity with the entire team. Share with them that it couldn’t have been accomplished without their specific input and dedication. This will help the team become more cohesive, and it will also help you be seen as a positive and effective leader. As Winston Churchill said, “The price of greatness is responsibility.” This is especially true for those who take on a leadership role.