Credibility Quiz Results

What will you need to do if you want to build your current level of credibility?

      According to the readings a strong leader takes action. This action could include: making decisions, providing direction for others, creating plans, giving regular feedback, getting resources for followers, and building cohesive teams. Trust and credibility go hand in hand when assessing a leader. Followers need to be able to trust their leader in order for the leader to have the capability to properly lead them. 

Of course more indirect qualities enter into the making of a strong leader. These qualities are more difficult to measure and leaders may feel in much less control of these qualities than the more direct action abilities. These qualities would include: values, personality and intelligence. All of these are important components in the making of a strong leader and determine how followers will comply with their leadership. Qualities that are measurable and are able to be observed such as behavior and intelligence can be measured through testing. 

However, the leader needs to possess the less controlled qualities as well. Showing concern for others and lending support to followers is important. The leader needs to have strong social skills and be able to communicate clearly with ease. To increase the positive attributes of a strong leader they need to be aware that when dealing with their followers they have to vary their approach. For example, the leader should give lots of details to an inexperienced follower who will appreciate the guidance and not give as much detail to an experienced follower that would not appreciate too many details. The leader has to also have the ability to adjust their guidance of followers according to the situation presented. For instance, approaches would vary in a company experiencing a financial crisis versus a successful financial year.

A strong leader offers regular development planning that: pinpoints development needs for the business, creates development plans, implements those plans and then revises the plan as needed.

Success in a business’s leadership depends upon the workers as well. A strong leader recognizes that the workers need support to build their trust to ensure that they will follow through consistently with expectations. An effective leader offers coaching that will reinforce behavioral changes, helps workers practice these changes, gives feedback consistently on the workers progress, and offers mentoring programs. A mentoring program is very important to guide workers to a higher functioning level; however it is imperative that the mentor be an expert within their field of knowledge.

The making of a strong leader is complex and has developed over time. I feel that I am immature in the development of my profession. Even though my assessment tests indicate that I possess leadership abilities, I know that a lot of work needs to be done before I can reach that level. I want to not only lead others, but be a strong and effective leader. This requires commitment, time and proper mentoring for this to be accomplished. It is evident to me that I need to develop more skills, knowledge and commitment to development creditability within the profession that I have chosen for a career.