What characteristics must effective leader have? Describe relevant motivational theories and examples .

• Communication Skills: A good leader must possess a high level of communication skills. They must be good speakers as well as listeners. They should be able to communicate to all levels of the organisation; able to converse with followers and also listen to their ideas, asking questions and answering their queries in order to ensure that they have understood what was communicated. They should also be able to win people over through sharing important ideas and visions, allowing followers to buy-in and trust in the Leader. Through their words they can help keep the workforce motivated and committed.
• Interpersonal Skills: A leader should have good interpersonal skills and earn the trust and confidence of his/her followers. They must listen to their followers’ grievances and give constructive feedback where required. The team dynamic should be balanced and everyone should be pulling in the same direction. Leaders that have earned the trust and respect of their followers can use this trust to move the organization towards the achievements of its goal. These leaders are able to use their interpersonal skills to work through difficult relationships, and keep the peace in their departments. There is a happy camp – one which is excelling in performance.
• Flexible: The Leader must never sit on their laurels. It is his/her responsibility to constantly challenge the status quo and push the boundaries. The Leader is flexible and adjusts to his her environment, prepared to change direction, and tactics to suit. This also stretches to his/her Leadership style – adjusting slightly to get the best out of each individual.
• Decision Making: A good leader must know how to take decisions in a matter of seconds and be quick in making informed decisions when the time arises. The speed in decision making is backed by the fact that they are constantly to hand with the right real-time information, which is obtained at the source – in the coal face. Decisions are quick but informed and the Leader is actively managing by Walking about, not stuck behind a desk trailing through spreadsheets hour upon hour.
• Value Diversity: They must also understand that diversity is good for business and the more diverse, the greater opportunities for innovation and improvement will result. Leaders actively seek a mix of diversity in order to better the team / organisation’s potential for excelling and innovation. With this value, everyone is treated fair and there is no favouritism.
• Business Acumen: It is not enough to just lead. Great Leaders understand the Business needs and what that means at a deeper level, in terms of performance and how to get the best out of the situation. An important aspect here is that a good leader taps in to informal networks across the business, in order to get the best output for the team / Organisation. They understand what is needed and how to get the job done. They also know how to break down barriers to change, when they arise. The leader is always a few steps ahead, understanding issues and working out plans to address them before they happen.
• Problem Solver / Innovator: If there are issues and problems which prevent the tasks being achieved, the Leader possesses good foresight, probing, and obtaining root causes, not settling for the status quo. He/She does not take any exceptions to the plan as a case of “Things just happen,” and “That’s the way it is.” The Leader seeks to understand the issue, correct it and then aspires to [Error proof] this so it doesn’t happen again. Challenges are overcome with innovative solutions.
• Results driven: It is not enough to just lead, and expect the team to deliver. The Leader actively seeks perfection and focuses on the delivery of the team’s performance, by leading and understanding everything going on. He/She may delegate effectively but still sets the example, raising the bar and sets expectations for others to follow. Since they understand the deeper needs of the organisation and how to get there, they lead and communicate this plan and vision with their teams. No stone is left unturned.
• Confidence: One of the most important characteristics of being a good leader is confidence. A good leader must be confident in whatever he/she does. The Leader must not be hesitant in taking decisions, which may be popular or unpopular. A confident leader is aware of his/her shortcomings and always maintains his calm, even during emergency situations.

Should have below characteristics :

Passionate

Communication skills

Goal oriented

Organized and detail focused

Adaptable

Creative