The ability to lead others is one of those intangible qualities. It is tied to the ability to motivate, encourage and when needed, be forceful in getting employees to do their jobs. And being a good leader in business is the same as being a leader in life. If you don’t believe it check the bullet points below – theory and life makes here a good match. Leadership in business, leadership in life.

• First of all, a leader is able to make decisions in a timely manner cause is focused on action and present time. If weeks are spent analyzing and re-analyzing data and nothing is done with it, then what good is the data? A leader makes decisions, then acts on them. If, after a decent amount of time has passed and that decision proves to be incorrect, then the course of action can be changed. The point is that action has been taken and progress has been made. (Winston Churchil, “It is a mistake to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time.”)

• Secondly, a true leader supports his/her people as being part of the team – only than the team is strong. If an employee gets called on the carpet for following the leader’s direction, then the leader has a responsibility to back that employee to the superiors. This will solidify trust between the leader and his/her people, and also confirm in the superior’s mind that the leader is committed to the company. (Genghis Khan, “One arrow alone can be easily broken but many arrows are indestructible.”)

• A good leader does not brow-beat or berate. That kind of behavior only leads to employees leaving for a more pleasant job. A good leader motivates by offering incentives and goals, and constructive criticism on how to reach those goals. Being good with people always brings the best results. (Franklin D. Roosevelt, “If you treat people right they will treat you right 90% of the time.”)

• Finally, a good leader is not afraid to get his/her hands dirty. He/she must be willing to work long hours alongside those being led. This is a classic case of the old adage ‘you lead by example’. (Indira Ghandi, “My grandfather told me there are two kinds of people: workers and credit takers. Be a worker, he said, as there is less competition.”)

A company where the leaders are decisive, supportive, and lead by example, is appealing to employees, and a good bet for being successful in the marketplace and in life.

Check what ‘big minds’ said about leadership. Those quotes will blow your mind!

“It is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it… anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.” (Douglas Adams)

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” (John Quincy Adams)

“No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself, or to get all the credit for doing it.” (Andrew Carnegie)

“Management works in the system. Leadership works on the system.” (Stephen R. Covey)

“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, not so good when people obey and acclaim him, worse when they despise him….But of a good leader who talks little when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say, “We did it ourselves.” (Lao Tzu)

“I am more afraid of an army of 100 sheep led by a lion than an army of 100 lions led by a sheep.” (Talleyrand)

“A boss creates fear, a leader confidence. A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. A boss knows all, a leader asks questions. A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting. A boss is interested in himself or herself, a leader is interested in the group.” (Russell H. Ewing)

“Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. It is precisely that simple, and it is also that difficult.” (Warren Bennis)

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” (John Fitzgerald Kennedy)

‘The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” (Theodore Roosevelt)

“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” (Peter F. Drucker)

“Nothing so conclusively proves a man’s ability to lead others as what he does from day to day to lead himself.” (Thomas Watson)

‘Only one man in a thousand is a leader of men — the other 999 follow women.” (Groucho Marx)

“You do not lead by hitting people over the head – that’s assault, not leadership.” (Dwight D. Eisenhower)

And something additional. See the image below and you will find out what can happen without proper sales training, team development or leadership training. Maybe a good project managament or natural born leader will do?