Active leadership does more than help avoid serious drawbacks, it gives us the opportunity to engage with our members, establish our intent, and listen to their viewpoints and ideas. While it is not possible to be equal across the board with all members of a senior leadership, leaders must be thoughtful in how and when we interact with others. This is the way to identify risk, draw out concerns and suggestions, and reinforce our core values. Listening is a huge aspect of maintaining high-level leadership. I feel that all of us could agree, that we all could and need to improve our listening skills, and that leaders need to pay close attention to what is left unsaid in discussions. Equally important, leaders must watch for individuals or small groups that appear isolated or left out and engage with them. Another noticeable trait of leadership is letting your team lead the way. “LEAD FROM THE BACK — AND LET OTHERS BELIEVE THEY ARE IN FRONT.” (Nelson Mandela 1918-2013). Allowing the people behind you to lead, gives them more confidence and shows you care for their best interest. Being able to give others the opportunities to excel shows the power of being a team player; it gives a sense within the team the chance to be, and feel …show more content…
Understanding the art of influence is a strategic leadership component. A successful leader will understand what influence method works best for the situation and the person or group. If the desired effects aren’t obtained, perhaps the wrong method is being used. Effective leadership and influence has a wide array of methods. Too often potential leaders use the same method over and over, getting few results because the method was applied incorrectly. If mindsets are to be accepted toward a given change, leaders must learn the skill of influence. I feel to be an effective leader, it is necessary to influence others to support and apply decisions that the leader and group members identify what are necessary. Without influence, leadership does not transpire. In similar terms, leadership is the act of influencing outcomes. Influence can be within communities, people, objects or events. Strength of your effectiveness of influence can vary. The manner the leader uses to influence someone can take a variety of forms. Influence can be defined as “a force one person exerts on someone else to induce a change, including changes in behaviors, opinions, attitudes, goals” and “the capability to affect the behavior of others in a particular