Copyright (c) 2009 Alan Gillies

We regularly hear and see definitions of leadership, most of which seem to portray the meaning as the action of a leader guiding the behaviour of other people and groups of people, so as to complete specific goals.

In the first place, you might wonder "what is the use of such a term in daily life"? However, moving logically we find that most people are in great need of real guidance. So, leadership is not limited to just major companies; rather it is a pervasive activity which influences all aspects of our lives. Whether you are holding a managerial position or working as an employee in a company - you're looking to grow, and to do this, all you need to find in yourself is the decisive leadership ability to set yourself apart from the competition.

We all have to have at least some leadership ability to maximise our skills. These skills will help us to lead and manage our business resources - and our human resources. But the real stumbling block is "what skills would you need to acquire in order to become an exceptional leader", so you can effectively manage your own small business enterprise? A brief description here of several of these relevant leadership skills will help you to understand:

1. Good Communication Skills - An individual with good communication skills usually listens to the opinions of others, and is often also able to quickly convey their thoughts, thereby reaching effective decisions faster.

2. Good Motivation Skills - It is of the utmost importance for a leader to have the ability and strength to motivate people to accomplish objectives. A real leader utilises the most efficient approach for motivating others - leading by setting an excellent example.

3. Adaptability - Adaptability is the key to succeeding in our ever changing business environment. When you plan your operations always allow for flexibility, so that you can easily adapt to any unpredictable situation that may arise.

4. Know Your People - Once you are able to give your personal touch to your work relationships you will see amazing benefits from these efforts. Personal lives have a great impact on the professional lives of people. When your colleges, employees and customers realise that you care about them, they will connect with you on a personal level.

5. Work Delegation - You can't do everything on your own. Delegating work to your subordinates is only a part of your delegation requirement. You also need to give personal responsibility of the work to your employees individually, and then keep track of their progress regularly.

6. Decision Making - Decision making is a vital part of each and every business. You need to be able to make fast, good and sound decisions in all sorts of situations that may - on occasion, be very difficult. The decisions you chose will directly effect your leadership status, so when additional choices aren't available to you - go with your intuition.

7. Passion - A leader should have a passion to perform. Being passionate about your work will empower you to find almost impossible solutions - be it invention, discovery, or innovation. In the right situations, this quality by itself could guarantee your success.

So, all you need is to achieve personally is a blend of these skills to effectively and efficiently manage your small business enterprises.

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Alan Gillies is the Managing Director of the L2L Group, specialising in delivering Executive Coaching, Training and Consultancy Services to Businesses around the World. Want to discover more about these insightful business building success strategies? Get Alan's essential

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