Page Title

What Makes Leaders Effective?

May 10, 1999

"Effective leaders provide whatever their subordinates lack to be fully effective themselves.  That could be: confidence, information, recognition, discipline, or in some cases, nothing at all.

Develop Your Employees
When employees don't feel equal to their task, you want to build their self-confidence.  Show them how to succeed, praise their progress, and demonstrate your confidence in their abilities.

Communicate Clearly
When employees have incomplete or incorrect information, you should set them straight.  Give them facts that are up-to-date, reliable, and clear.  Avoid complicated, evasive explanations.

Appreciate Your Employees' Work
Effective leaders never take work for granted.  When workers do what is expected of them - especially under difficult conditions - make sure they know that you are aware of it, and appreciate it.

Set Appropriate Limits
When workers don't take their responsibilities seriously, or try to evade established rules, make it clear that you won't tolerate it.

Don't Interfere
When employees are reliable, self-motivated, and self-disciplined, don't impose unnecessary leadership on them.  Instead, remain ready to assist, but do not interfere unless they ask for help.

Effective leaders primarily concern themselves with satisfying the needs of the people they lead.  Above all, effective leaders must be adaptable: they must fit their approach to the people they are leading (Gellerman, 1994, pp.15-16)."

Reference: Gellerman, S.W. (1994).  Motivating superior performance. Portland, Oregon: Productivity Press.

Are you an effective leader?

* Motivating Superior Performance is available on loan at the OSU Leadership Center.  A listing of all the Leadership Center's resources is available on our website www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~leaders

Back to Top >

Created: 2009-01-06, Updated: 2009-01-18