How to Become a Better Leader

Have you been fortunate enough to work for a great boss – someone who listened to you, valued you, motivated you, and was a strong leader? Most great leaders are not born as such. They are often taught and mentored by others. But what makes someone a good leader? If you research the topic, you will undoubtedly find several resources that include lists of character traits of good leaders. You might also find lists that include factors such as being a good listener, being willing to embrace change, being able to communicate realistic and clear expectations, sharing the library’s/organization’s vision, allowing room for growth, developing supervisees, giving and receiving quality feedback, encouraging and coaching rather than lecturing or berating team members. The list can be unlimited. There is one quality that seems to appear on many lists regarding what it takes to be a good leader ─ empathy. That aligns with the author of this article who says the best advice he can give when it comes to being a good leader is “to prioritize empathy.”

Empathy is generally defined as having the ability to sense other people’s emotions along with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. In short, it’s putting yourself in someone’s position to understand their feelings. Even with the skill to express empathy for others, we realize that no one is perfect. So, it stands to reason that there are no perfect leaders. However, being a good leader is something that almost anyone can learn and improve upon. It may not happen overnight. It often takes time and much trial and error. It is worth the effort, though. Learning how to be a good leader can greatly impact the success of your team, your library/organization, and ultimately your own career journey.

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