There is so much more to being a leader than just a mere title. A leader is responsible for many things: they are in charge of making important decisions; they shape the direction and future of the company; they are responsible for the wellbeing and livelihood of their employees. So, it is no wonder that a leader has various leadership roles to play and multiple hats to wear.
Here are the 15 roles that most leaders play when it comes to running a business.
1. Decision-maker
First and foremost, a leader needs to be decisive and be able to make difficult decisions. This means making a decision even though it might be unpopular with the team or when they are working with limited information.
2. Visionary
As the head of the company, leaders should have a clear picture of where the organization is going and why the destination matters to the company, team, shareholders, stakeholders and ultimately, themselves.
3. Strategist
Leaders are required to keep the company’s overarching goal in mind, so that they can lead the team in the direction that the company is aiming for.
4. Change agent
After vision and strategy, comes the ever-present need for change. Leaders must have the willingness to pursue constant improvement and the ability to drive the changes that they envision for the organization. This is crucial to ensure that the organization can be agile in adapting to changes in the business environment.
5. Influencer
A leader should be highly persuasive in order to become an agent of change and an influential leader. They should master the art of negotiation and persuasion in order to influence their stakeholders in order to keep the company’s objectives at the forefront of every decision.
6. Listener
Contrary to popular belief, the best leaders actually talk less — but they listen, observe, and ask more. When leaders take the time and effort to actively listen to the needs, opinions, and suggestions of their team and customers, they will be able to serve them better. They can get fresh perspectives, new ideas, and even brilliant solutions that they have never thought about before.
Related Read: 5 Reasons Why (Active) Listening Determines Your Leadership Success
7. Communicator
A great leader is able to communicate clearly and effectively with different people, whether they are clients, subordinates, suppliers, or other stakeholders. They should have the skills to communicate information clearly, motivate their teams, and inspire them to work towards achieving the company’s biggest goals.
8. Motivator
A good leader understands how to encourage and motivate their employees to achieve their highest potential. When a leader can inspire the team, they will be driven to work harder and strive for greater responsibility within the organization.
9. Role model
It is important for a leader to conduct themselves as they expect their employees to behave in the workplace. When it comes to following the company’s guidelines, interacting with clients, or colleagues — it is their responsibility to set an example and inspire others to live up to the organization’s core beliefs.
10. Adaptor
There is always a potential for the unexpected to happen, that is why a leader has to be able to adapt accordingly. A flexible leader can respond to changes in an agile manner, setting the tone for the team to change their course of action as needed.
11. Innovator
In order for their company to thrive, a leader must constantly improve their existing process of work, their products or services, and find out new ways to level up their business. They should actively bring in the team to discuss ideas and solutions, inspire them to seek change, growth, and get out of their comfort zones.
12. Delegator
A leader can’t do it all — they need to be able to delegate work willingly and strategically. Doing so ensures that everything can go smoothly and that the team is taking on bigger roles in the organization, helping them grow and improve their skills.
13. Networker
Building and strengthening relationships with the team, suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders of the organization is essential. Through networking, leaders can get access to different people, resources, and information that is crucial to the growth and success of the organization.
14. Learner
Learning should become a lifelong habit for every leader. Learning can be anything from reading a book, joining a seminar, signing up for a course, or simply having a discussion with people. By setting an example, leaders can inspire their employees to keep learning and pursue continuous improvement.
15. Coach
In order to provide support for the team so they can succeed in the roles, a leader should also play the role of a coach. A coaching leader provides opportunities for employees to showcase their skills by asking them guiding questions and providing suggestions for improvement.
Coaching leaders usually have one-on-one sessions with individual team members to provide them with feedback or feedforward about their performance, discuss challenges, and acknowledge their effort and accomplishments.
What kind of leadership roles have you played as a leader?
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Great blog.Really looking forward to read more. Keep writing.