I just learned from my professor the seven (7) principles of leadership as mentioned in the book titled " The Way of the Shepherd. The moment she discussed this, I search for the book and it really sounds good.
The 7 principles may guide us on how to become a good leader. For today, I would give my inputs toward Principle 1.
Principle 1: Know the condition of your flock
The first principle, Know the Condition of Your Flock, points out the importance of a leader understanding the condition of their people and their work. The value of taking a personal interest and getting to know all your workers as individuals and showing concern for their wellbeing.
As leaders in our own field, we are entrusted to lead people of different IQ and EQ levels, diverse cultures, and colorful personalities. Aside from that, leaders are expected to perform tasks every day with utmost dedication and excellence. The mountainous workload keep them busy that sometimes the most important resources in the organization – its people, are forgotten and worst of all taken for granted.
Leaders are respected by their people but when they treat people as worthy individuals they are respected and loved. To be loved, leaders should know their people by name and by heart. It is significant for leaders to engage regularly with their people to understand the challenges and difficulties that their people are facing and appreciate whatever good is happening to them. When leaders make themselves available it helps to motivate people to perform at their best. Know your people on another level, not just the role that they have at work but to get to know the person themselves.
Thus, becoming a good leader would mean building personal and working relationships with the members. This relationship would allow the leader to know the condition of his people.