Four Leadership Roles

While some people were born to be leaders, most people learn how to lead by developing their ability to fulfill a leadership role. Successful leaders play four roles to reach their objectives. They are:

Visionary An effective leader has a vision of what an organization can become. The vision is future-oriented and consists of goals and directions. Leaders use passion to inflame others with their vision so that the work becomes important and possible.

Communicators An effective leader speaks and writes so that others understand what must be done. The communicator motivates and builds solidarity around the work at hand. They often share information to empower people to take action.

Producers An effective leader gets things done. A producer sees difficulties as opportunities, not as obstacles. A producer focuses on results and does not simply talk about them. They are often known for getting work done on time with high quality.

Facilitators An effective leader forges cooperative working relationships among cross-functional groups. The facilitator supports, empowers, and establishes confidence in an organization. They help people come together in a productive manner to complete a job. Since not all great leaders are born that way, most people need to work and improve their skills. By practicing the four roles of an effective leader, you will cultivate your own leadership abilities.