How to Demonstrate your Leadership Potential

Leadership is a vital force that binds the organization’s functions and leads it towards achieving a common goal. Leadership is a cohesive force that integrates people with varied skills and abilities and motivates them to work to better the organizational goal.

Potential leaders must possess exquisite traits and skills to become suitable for this role.

It may include characteristics such as Problem-solving, Self-confidence, vision and risk-taking, which encompasses the passion to work and excel. It also needs one to possess skills of guiding and motivating others.

Many a time, an individual may possess one or more of the skills as mentioned earlier, but for the management to identify that and then hand over key roles, one needs to demonstrate the possession of the qualities through live performance.

How to demonstrate leadership potential

It is true that opportunity knocks on the door, and one needs to be all eye and ear to grab such opportunities. Demonstration of qualities one possesses has to be done every time the opportunity arrives. True leadership is always identified at an early stage, so it is necessary to be displayed early.

Leading by example

The world is demanding, and it is also essential that one displays his commitment to excellence by consistently delivering tasks with high quality, initiating tasks and shouldering challenges. This will be a standard for others to emulate. The leader should lead from the front whenever the going is tough, similar to a captain who plays a crucial role in a do-or-die situation.

Communication holds the key

Clarity in communication is the most essential characteristic of any individual. In corporate scenarios, communication needs to be crisp and clear. If concepts are put forth, it would help the other person understand it better. Additionally, the leader should demonstrate good listening skills that would foster confidence in his team members.

Taking the first bite

Leadership is about taking risks, and often, the person may have to take the initiative when others are skeptical about it. This proactiveness separates the leaders from the followers. Therefore, a potential leader should be able to put his hand up whenever there is a need for it.

Taking the bull by its horns

Challenges are a vital part of life and more so in corporate life. A leader needs to demonstrate his abilities to take up challenges and successfully face and come out of it unscathed. Therefore, a potential leader should always be ready to face challenges. A great opponent or a demanding situation may be the bull that needs to be met, and who better than a leader can show the path.

Adaptability

A leader needs to demonstrate his ability to adapt to changing conditions and flexibility to work with different ideas, different people and different locations with different roles. It is like a batsman who could bat anywhere in the line-up and roll his arm over when the situation demands to bowl, forging partnerships with tail-enders when needed. This characteristic instils a considerable degree of confidence in the team.

Decision-making ability

A leader may have to make critical decisions when faced with a challenging situation. A prudent leader weighs the pros and cons of various options before making the right decision. The timing of the decision also may hold a key in this situation.

Preparing the second line of command

A leader’s success is not just measured only by his performance but also necessary to mentor and coach a second line of command to whom authority can be partially delegated in the early days. These understudies can be later groomed as leaders as they would have sufficient exposure to leadership tasks.

Humility

Sometimes, a high degree of confidence may lead to arrogance; therefore, another virtue, humility, is essential to keep the leader's feet on the ground. This instills confidence and

good teamwork among the team members and a high level of motivation to work.

Studnets must display these virtues at an early stage in the schools and universities as that would give them a better understanding of the potential of the individuals so that they can be elevated to the role of a leader. Hence, potential leaders are advised to encash opportunities whenever available to showcase their leadership potential. Also, Higher education institutions have a very big role in shaping tomorrow’s leaders. The opportunities provided by higher education institutions would help potential leaders identify their talents, garner knowledge and understand the application of key leadership skills. This will enable them to become more robust and stable leaders who can take well-informed decisions with a balanced mind.

Ravindra Shenoy U

Assistant Professor - Selection Grade

Department of Commerce, MAHE Manipal