The Art of Leadership – The Key Factor for Employees to Give 100% Effort

The art of leadership is formed from experience and training. It requires a leader to possess 5 key elements: HEART – TALENT – VISION – INTELLECT – VIRTUE. To understand more about the art of leadership, let’s explore with 1Office in the article below!

• What are leadership skills? 10 Skills a leader needs

I. What is the art of leadership?

The art of leadership is the way a leader skillfully utilizes what they have, such as authority, knowledge, etc., along with methods and techniques appropriate for each individual. Every leader desires to master this art to define goals, create motivation, and facilitate the success and development of an organization or group.

>> See more: What is leadership style? 8 Common leadership styles today

II. 7 Skills an excellent leader needs

A good leader is not only proficient in their expertise and management leadership capabilities but must also be skilled. Here are 7 skills a good leader needs:

• Critical thinking: Understanding the “root cause” of a problem to make sound decisions and provide good direction for subordinates.
• Ability to make quick and accurate decisions: Requires the leader to have extensive experience and high capability. Decisions are made based on intuition and relevant evidence related to the issue.
• Listening and problem-solving skills: Perceiving and evaluating issues from multiple perspectives to find the most suitable solution. Building a work environment of equality – unity – sharing. Aligning individual interests and activities with the collective.
• Communication skills: Flexibly using verbal and body language to convey information and emotions clearly and persuasively.
• Relationship-building skills: Building good and sustainable relationships with personnel, customers, and partners.
• Employee training and orientation skills: Knowing how to unlock the inner potential of each employee through training and orientation. This helps personnel improve their performance and work quality, as well as foster long-term commitment to the company.
• Time management skills: The ability to organize and categorize tasks by priority level for execution. Ensuring work stays on track with the plan’s schedule.

III. 6 outstanding characteristics of a person with the art of leadership

A person with the art of leadership must have 6 outstanding characteristics. Let’s explore these 6 characteristics with 1Office in the content below!

1. The vision of the organization and the leader

Vision means knowing how to set short-term or long-term goals based on the company’s existing resources. It also involves identifying future market opportunities and challenges.

It is easy to see that their art of leadership is reflected in the vision of the organization and the leader. A leader’s vision is essentially the goal and operational direction for the organization in the short and long term, based on the company’s existing resources.

The difference in vision between a person with the art of leadership and a typical leader lies in the scope of that vision. They have the ability to recognize future market opportunities and challenges. All of a leader’s activities and decisions are made comprehensively, based on the core elements of the business, such as:

• Cooperative structure.
• Product and marketing system.
• Excellent team of personnel.
• Internal management system: OKR, BSC, KPI,…
• Execution and control system.

>> Read more: John Maxwell’s 5 Levels of Leadership and How to Become a Great CEO

2. Ethical Principles

Leaders must be able to lead themselves before they can lead others. Therefore, any leader must establish a set of ethical principles and proper conduct.

Ethical principles here mean controlling behavior, speech, and treating staff and those around them well. This is how managers master themselves and their actions wisely and skillfully.

3. Empathize with Employees

Great leaders understand their employees. They understand the desires and difficulties their staff are facing. Beyond that, managers also share and help solve problems for their staff using their own practical experience, helping them overcome each stage to become better and develop every day.

To do this, a leader’s every action must come from the “heart.” This is completely different from the dry data from reports and research. It involves empathy, sincerity, and a desire to develop their staff as if they were family.

At the same time, leaders also need to place trust in their employees. Trust in their abilities and qualities.

4. Understand Yourself

Besides empathizing with employees, leaders must understand themselves. They need to know their strengths, weaknesses, and where they need support from their staff. Only then can leaders leverage their own abilities and utilize their staff most effectively.

5. Ability to Build Relationships with People

Instead of creating a large distance with employees, a good leader will have a close relationship with their staff. This allows everyone to easily exchange, discuss, and share with each other positively. These relationships are often very strong, which is further proven by the high number of staff who stay with the company long-term.

Additionally, leaders also need to strengthen their surrounding relationships. Whether with partners, friends, or colleagues, a leader will always know how to build and improve these relationships.

6. Build and Develop Corporate Culture

A person with the art of leadership also contributes to building and developing corporate culture. This activity is a way for each member to form common ground, work together, and grow. The leader always brings positive values to those around them, building a strong organization. The ultimate goal of corporate culture is to create a good environment for employees.

>> Read more: 7 Important Management Skills for Managers and 7 Ways to Improve Your Management Skills

IV. 21 Golden Rules in the Art of Leadership

The art of leadership has its own principles. These principles were clearly stated by John C. Maxwell in his world-renowned management and leadership book titled “21 Golden Rules in the Art of Leadership”. To learn more details about these 21 principles, please read the content below:

1. The Law of the Lid

This principle states that a person’s leadership ability is directly proportional to their effectiveness. This means: high leadership ability results in high effectiveness, low leadership ability results in low effectiveness, and there are no exceptions.

The formula for calculating an individual’s effectiveness derived from this principle is as follows:

Individual Effectiveness = (Leadership Ability) X (Factors Contributing to Success)

It is clear that individual effectiveness is determined by leadership ability and the factors contributing to success. If either of these two factors is low, individual effectiveness will plummet.

For example: Global Hospitality Resource, a company owned by Stephenson, specializes in acquiring underperforming hotels and resorts. After each acquisition, Stephenson retrains the entire staff and improves the service quality of the hotel/resort. Notably, he would fire the leaders there. Explaining this, he shared, “if they were good leaders, the business wouldn’t have been so bad.”

>> Read more: Optimal Employee Performance Management Process to Double Productivity

2. The Principle of Influence

Challenging many people’s perceptions of a leader, the principle of influence suggests that a talented person with high authority is not necessarily a leader. A person with the art of leadership is someone who has influence over others and guides them to follow their direction voluntarily.

An influential person must gain recognition from others. Their every action is followed and learned from by many people.

Therefore, a talented person, even in a high position within a company, is not yet a leader if they do not influence others and have no followers.

Example: In programs such as AIDS research, caring for leprosy patients, and campaigning against landmines, Diana successfully persuaded many people, including governments, to participate. This success was not based on her position as a Princess but on her personal charm and influence. This was most clearly demonstrated in a 1996 poll by the London Daily Mail, which named her the “most beloved person in the world,” confirming Princess Diana’s powerful influence.

3. The Principle of Process

Leadership is a special art in the business world. This art is not innate; it is formed through experience and training. Therefore, leadership talent requires perseverance and continuous effort. The process of developing leadership talent is divided into 5 stages as follows:

(1) I don’t know what I don’t know.

(2) I know what I need to know.

(3) I know what I don’t know.

(4) I know, I grow, and it starts to show.

(5) I develop easily because of what I know.

Example: The life of President Theodore Roosevelt: As a child, he suffered from asthma, had poor eyesight, and was frail. Under his father’s guidance, he trained both his mind and body. His progress was evident day by day, and he graduated from the prestigious Harvard University.

Not stopping there, he continued to learn and develop himself. As a result, he became the President of the United States and achieved countless great accomplishments. In any position, he always learned, cultivated himself, and enhanced his leadership talent.

4. The Principle of Navigation

Leading a team or organization is not difficult. The hardest part is coordinating, managing, and operating that team or organization to achieve high efficiency. The art of “navigation” leadership is most evident when facing problems and difficulties.

This principle of navigation shows the importance of a leader’s preparation to always be in control of any situation. The preparation formula is as follows:

• Define the action plan
• Clearly define the goals
• Set priorities
• Share information with other key figures
• Confirm consensus
• Take action
• Anticipate difficulties
• Focus on results
• Monitor and evaluate results daily

>> See more: 8+ Most Effective Strategies to Attract Potential Customers – Double Your Conversion Rate

5. The Principle of Being Heard

A leader’s words must have value and carry weight with the listener. Only then can the transmission of information from the leader to the staff be most effective.

People with authority are not necessarily listened to, nor are they necessarily leaders. They only become true leaders when they possess the following 7 factors:

• Character
• Relationships
• Knowledge
• Intuition
• Experience
• Success
• Ability

<spanTo be a leader, they must first be proactive in connecting with their employees. While leading oneself requires reason, leading others requires the heart. Sincerity is the bond that strengthens the connection between managers and staff. By building relationships with their staff, leaders can then implement subsequent tasks. 

Example: Napoleon was a French statesman and military leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led several successful campaigns during the French Revolutionary Wars. He connected with his generals through the simplest act: learning to remember all their names.  

>> See more: 5 Effective Employee Engagement Methods for Businesses

11. The Principle of the Inner Circle

A leader’s success is best reflected in the success of those they lead. The people in a leader’s inner circle reflect who they are. By transmitting positive energy to them, the leader will receive that same positive energy back from their staff. 

Sharing and transmitting energy will not be effective when the leader directs it towards negative or oppositional individuals. 

Example: Manager Lee Iacocca of Ford and Chrysler once said that success comes not from what a leader knows, but from who the leader knows and the path the leader creates for them.

12. The Principle of Empowerment

Sharing power does not diminish a leader’s power. Sharing power is a way for leaders to create development opportunities for their staff. Moreover, a leader does not need to, and cannot, manage all the staff in a company, especially in large corporations. Therefore, leaders need to have clear delegation of authority among individuals and departments. This also serves as a basis for leaders to find “quality” personnel to support them in important activities and build development opportunities for the organization. 

Example: President Abraham Lincoln appointed William Seward, his former arch-rival, as Secretary of State and Edwin Stanton as Secretary of War. 

13. The Principle of Role Modeling

To be a good leader, one must be someone who “walks the talk,” consistent in both action and word. The weight of a leader’s words and actions will be more respected and strictly followed by subordinates. In doing so, the leader not only builds a good image in the eyes of their staff but also becomes a good role model for everyone to look up to and follow. 

Conversely, if a leader makes decisions but does not implement them properly themselves, their subordinates will naturally perform their duties perfunctorily or adopt a negative attitude. 

Example: Mahatma Gandhi is one of the greatest leaders of all time. He led his country, India, to independence. His policy was nonviolent resistance. Many Indians did not believe in this policy, but they believed in him and his leadership, and therefore they followed his strategic vision and adhered to his plan.

14. The Principle of Building Trust

Every leader needs to have clear goals. With those goals, the leader will proceed to find and recruit talented individuals to work and collaborate with them. The leader must believe in the goals and in the success that will be achieved in the future. Then, they must convey that belief to their staff. When staff and partners trust the manager’s goals and plans, they will participate wholeheartedly. In the process, staff will develop and discover their own individual goals.

15. The Principle of Victory

A victorious leader is one who never accepts failure. They will always find a way to win. This is one of the characteristics ingrained in many leaders, demonstrating a resilient will that does not yield to any difficulties or challenges. The 16th principle shows that the 3 necessary factors for a leader to win include: 

• The unity of the organization.
• The capabilities and skills of the staff.
• The leader’s “fighting spirit” and the development potential of each staff member.

Example: British Prime Minister Churchill was a victorious leader. To win against the fascist enemy, he did everything he could: rally the people, deploy troops, ally with the Soviet Union, and persuade the US president to join the war…

>> See more: 5 effective project management secrets for businesses!

16. The Principle of Inertia

Simply put, inertia is the way a leader motivates their staff. When staff encounter any difficulties, they can easily overcome them thanks to the inertia built up beforehand. 

17. The Principle of Priority

Always focusing on important, high-priority tasks is the working method of a good leader. This is an art of leadership applied according to the Pareto principle and the 3R principle. Specifically: 

• The Pareto Principle: If we focus on the 20% of things that are important, we will achieve 80% of the work’s effectiveness.
• The 3R Principle: Based on Requirement, Return, and Reward to determine what needs to be prioritized.

18. The Principle of Sacrifice

The vast majority of leaders frequently use this principle. The principle of sacrifice has a formula: take one step back to take two steps forward. This means that a leader must sometimes be willing to sacrifice something to achieve the ultimate goal. The simplest proof is that a leader’s working hours can sometimes be 24/7 without receiving any personal benefits like salary, bonuses, etc. In general, a leader will face pressure and make silent sacrifices to achieve their goals. 

19. The Principle of Timing

The element of timing is considered extremely important in leadership. The right decisions at the right time will bring outstanding results for the leader. Sometimes, a well-built implementation strategy can lead to unpredictable consequences just by being poorly timed.

Timing is judged by a leader based on experience, intuition, and relevant data. Therefore, to master the art of leadership, a leader must also know how to choose and identify the right moments. 

20. The Principle of Explosive Growth

Growth and explosion are two peak levels that any leader wishes to achieve. For the growth level, a leader needs to know how to lead their subordinates. For the explosive level, a leader must be a leader of other leaders.

In general, the principle of explosive growth demonstrates a leader’s ability across various levels, from individuals to other leadership positions. Reaching this threshold helps a manager multiply the strength of their team.   

21. The Principle of Legacy

Even when a leader is gone, their value continues to grow and succeed through the legacy they leave behind. The legacy here refers to the achievements they accomplished during their leadership. Achieving this further proves that the person is a truly talented leader. 

Example: Roberto C. Goizueta – Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola, upon his unexpected passing, left a wonderful legacy for his successors.

V. How to Build and Develop the Art of Leadership 

1. Develop self-awareness about yourself and your work

Self-awareness helps leaders better understand themselves and their role in the organization, allowing them to adjust their behavior and leadership style accordingly. This helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses, while optimizing your approach to different leadership situations. 

To develop this ability, you can apply several methods such as: 

• Conduct regular assessments and analyses: Leaders can use tools like the MBTI or DISC personality tests, or EQ (Emotional Intelligence) assessments to gain deeper insights into their personality and working style. 
• Use 360-degree feedback: Feedback from colleagues, superiors, and subordinates also provides a comprehensive and multi-dimensional view of your leadership style. This helps you recognize ineffective behaviors or habits and create a specific improvement plan. 
• Regularly self-reflect and adjust personal goals: Set short-term and long-term goals for your development as a leader. From there, you can periodically re-evaluate and adjust your goals based on changes and lessons learned from your work experience.

2. Participate in Practical Training Programs

In-depth and practical training courses will provide specialized knowledge and experience from individuals who have gone through real-life situations. This will help leaders better understand the strategies and tools necessary for managing and operating a business. 

Leaders can consider: 

• Participate in in-depth management and leadership courses: Choose training courses that focus on solving specific leadership issues such as Situational Leadership, Conflict Management, and Strategic Thinking. 
• Join mentorship/coaching programs: You can find a mentor or a coaching program to learn from experienced leaders, gaining practical lessons that are difficult to convey through books. 
• Attend seminars, workshops, or short-term courses: You should choose training programs related to your current job or a new field you want to develop in, such as team building, cross-cultural leadership, or business management in the digital age. 
• Apply knowledge to real-world projects: Undertake small projects or test the methods you’ve learned in your actual work to gain experience, making the learning process highly applicable. 

3. Utilize Supporting Technology

Today, the development of technology has completely changed the way we work and manage in a business environment. Applying technology to leadership not only helps save time and optimize efficiency but also creates transparency and better connection with the team. 

• Use work and project management software: Businesses can use tools like 1Office, Trello, Asana, and Microsoft Teams to track progress, assign tasks, and allocate resources reasonably. 
• Apply AI and data analytics: Using AI and data analysis tools will help you enhance your data-driven decision-making skills, as well as predict and optimize strategic effectiveness.
• Implement performance evaluation and management tools: Using Human Resource Management (HRM) software helps leaders track and evaluate employee performance and provide timely feedback. This allows leaders to understand team development and make appropriate adjustments. 

Above are the characteristics and principles of the art of leadership. We hope this article has been helpful to you. We wish you success!