How to Be a Great Leader

True leaders must be good role models, knowledgeable in their fields, and worthy of respect. There are many ways to lead, whether it's by taking on a leadership role at work or being the captain of your sports team. Here are some tips to help you excel as a leader in any situation.

To be a leader, you don't have to be an elected official, or a CEO. A leader is someone who others consistently want to follow for new trends and ideas. A fancy title can make that happen temporarily, but a true leader inspires steadfast loyalty with the steps below!

Be a good role model. To earn respect, it's important to show that you know your stuff. People will respect and listen to you if they know you are knowledgeable in your field.

• Discuss your experience. Without showing off, let your employees understand how long you've been in the business and what you have achieved while you were there. Not only will they have a better understanding of why you're sitting in the boss's chair, but they'll be more excited to be a part of your team and will admire you.
• Act professionally. Though you may be the boss, you should still be cordial to all of your employees, and should meet basic standards of professionalism, such as dressing appropriately, coming to work and meetings on time, and communicating in a professional manner.

Be confident. This step has nothing to do with actually knowing what you're doing -- as long as you're confident, few people will ask questions. People assume things, and when you act as if you belong, they assume you do. Therefore, when you are confident, they will naturally assume you know what you are doing. This gains you trust, responsibility, and respect.

• Confidence can be had in any situation. Imagine saying, "I don't know the answer," while looking down, thumbs twiddling, and your legs fidgeting. Now imagine saying, "I don't know the answer," with your head up, your shoulders back, and looking the speaker in the eye. Not knowing something is fine -- just be confident that you don't know it! A lack of knowledge has nothing to do with your confidence (or ability to lead).

Be firm, but kind. Since you're leading, you're the one that needs to set the rules and boundaries. It's up to you to establish some system, rhyme and reason to the situation. To do so, you must be firm in your convictions and keep to your stance. However, being dictatorial will instigate a revolution. Be logical and understanding when you assert your rule.

• Here's an example of poor leadership: An airline's forks kept disappearing and no one knew why. After an investigation, it was discovered the dishwashers were throwing them away because they couldn't get them adequately cleaned (and would thusly be reprimanded). If you're too dictatorial, your team will throw away your forks. Different management would have avoided this problem. So be kind and keep your entire cutlery.

Become an expert. Saying, "I don't know" as a leader is fine. Saying, "I don't know" repeatedly to every question you're asked is not. When you don't know something, find out the answer. Become an expert on what you need to be a pro in. Eventually, you'll have all the answers. You don't need them all right now, but you'll need each one eventually.

• Having a certain level of knowledge will help you feel confident and more leader-esque. While you can do without it, it's a matter of time before someone else with more knowledge and charisma comes along and takes the title out from under your feet. So whatever, whoever you're looking to lead, start studying up! It'll pay off in the long run.

Be decisive. You're standing in a circle of a group of friends, debating on what to do that night. Everyone is dilly-dallying, complaining, nixing everyone else's ideas until one person finally steps up and says, "Guys, we're doing this." That person rose to the top, saw the situation needed direction, and took charge. Leader, leader, leader.

• That being said, you have to know your place. There will be times when you have to make the decision yourself and times when you have to give the team time to form a consensus. Respect your followers -- what might happen if you veto their opinions? Which brings us to...

Keep your promises. You know how politicians are viewed as promise-breakers? Good. You also know how people hate politicians? Well, there you have it. Break your promises and you lose respect. Point blank. You can fit the suit, you can have all the charisma, and you can have the knowledge, but if you don't deliver on what you promised to deliver, the people will have you silver platter. 

Share your vision. As a leader, you can see the bigger issues, but you can also see how things could be so much better if we could just remove those obstacles. To get people to help you in changing things, you need to share that positive vision with them. Inspire them. Motivate them. Guide them. Show them how their actions are bringing everyone closer to that dream.