How to Be an Adaptable Leader and Use Change to Your Advantage

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( 7 min read )

1) What is Leadership?

2) Characteristics of Leadership

3) Why is Leadership Important?

4) What is Autocratic leadership?

5) Qualities of a Good Leader 

6) What are Leadership skills? And Qualities of a Good Leadership

7) Be an Adaptable Leader and Use Change to Your Advantage

8) 2 Types of Leadership 

9) 7 definitions of Great Leadership 

10) Leadership in management

11) Download Leadership PDF

12) Recommended Book for Leadership

Autocratic Leadership and Qualities of a Good Leader 

Introduction 

Maintain your relevance and stay adaptable in today's time in an ever-changing environment? Become a better leader by learning how to efficiently adapt to change yourself accordingly. Adoption is the most important key to success in entrepreneurships. 

Big changes of adoption happened in the past in the smartphone industry. Before Android started in smartphones, at that time it was the most popular Nokia brand. But when the Android operating system started in the smartphones officially. The key decision in Android history was Google's commitment to make Android an open-source operating system. That allowed it to become highly popular with third-party phone makers. Just a few years after the launch of Android 1.0, smartphones powered by the new OS were everywhere.

Autocratic Leadership and Democratic Leadership aren't good for a company, in leadership a person's combination of both in great leadership. Qualities of a Good Leader, that makes a person Good leader in entrepreneurship. 

Leadership is not just about achieving  company goals, and making the company profitable and focusing on business stability. In a business, leaders who are the main key person who decides the company or organizational future and contribute to achieving company goals and visions. How much a company will Become successful totally depends on a business leader, who leads the company commands. 

Leadership responsibility, solving the huge problems and focusing on solutions. Those are mainly focused on problem solving approaches. And a solution oriented person in a company. That person takes the responsibility of a company. Regarding company growth, company profitability, company stability. 

In today's society we need to require a different set of skills than it did in the past. It's undeniable that social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok have dominated and changed the way we compete in the business landscape. With a sea of competitors, it now matters how we present ourselves online and how we create experiences that are attractive to our clients and customers. 

Although some leadership skills, qualities and leadership habits remain the same, refusing to adapt to the current norm will make it difficult for a leader to stay in the game. Most challenging: how do we adapt to change in this fast-paced digital world? But how do we keep up and stay relevant as a leader?

1) What is Leadership?

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The state or position of being a manager or the person in charge, the qualities that a leader should have, the people who are in charge of a country, organization, etc.

Leadership, both as a research area and as a practical skill, and also it's an ability to accomplish an individual, group or organization to "lead people", influence or guide other individuals, teams, or entire organizations etc. 

Leadership is a process, which means the potential to influence the behaviour of other people. And It is also defined as the capacity to influence a group towards the realization of a goal. Leaders are required to develop their future visions, and to motivate others and the organizational members to want to achieve the visions.

2) Characteristics of Leadership

It is an interpersonal process in which a manager is into influencing and guiding workers towards attainment of goals and visions. It denotes a few qualities to be present in a person which includes self-awareness, intelligence, maturity and personality.

It is a group process. It involves two or more people interacting with each other.

A leader is involved in shaping and moulding the behaviour of the group towards accomplishment of organizational goals and visions. 

A Leader always focuses on solving the problems of a company or organization and works for growth in the company. To achieve companies goals and visions. And also think about their employees' growth. There is no best style of leadership. It all depends upon handling the situations. 

3) Why is Leadership Important?

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Leadership is the most important because it inspires employees, motivates them for work, and sets an example for people to accomplish positive changes in the world. Leaders establish a big vision for a company or organization, provide a plan of action, and build strong relationships with their employees and followers.

4) What is Autocratic leadership?

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Autocratic leadership is a management style wherein one person controls all the decisions and takes very little inputs from other group members. And they work on company profitability and visions, not for employees, they create big results even employees aren't satisfied with them. Autocratic leaders make choices or decisions based on their own beliefs and do not involve others for their suggestion or advice.

5) Qualities of a Good Leader 

Good leaders very possess self-awareness, garner credibility, focus on relationship-building, have a bias for action, have long term vision, exhibit humility, empower others, stay authentic, present themselves as constant and consistent, become role models and are fully present in entrepreneurship. 

Qualities of a good leader:

• Communication skills
• Empathy
• Confidence
• Integrity
• Accountability
• Goal
• Creativity
• Humility
• Decisiveness
• Honesty
• Passion
• Delegation
• Emotional intelligence
• Decision-making
• Learning
• Positivity
• Focus
• Innovation
• Courage
• Motivation
• Transparency
• Self-awareness
• Honesty and integrity 

6) What are Leadership skills? And Qualities of a Good Leadership

Before understanding Leadership skills, first you need to understand "why leaders are most important for a company? The leader is one of the important people in a company or Businesses. Who takes all the responsibilities of a company, to make the company more profitable, sustainable, abilities to deal with difficulties, bad situations, and they decide the company's future and contribute to make the company more successful in the long term. 

A short story by John Maxwell, one time an interviewer came over to John Maxwell, and he asked the question? How you make all loss making companies more profitable any specific laws followed by you. 

Then John Maxwell told him, a leader who is the main key person who takes all responsibilities of a company and makes the company more profitable, rather than to get success give the excuses to fail.

He followed some specific laws: 

• First he fires the president or CEO of a company, just because he is the main key person who decides the future of a company, and at any cost he puts all efforts by himself and makes the company profitable, stable, sustainable, he uses all abilities to make the company successful, rather than to get success give the excuses to fail.
• Retrain all team members and employees.
• Retrain to the employees how customers stay happy with your products or services. 
• Retrain about how we improve customer experience. 
• Even though there are no resourceful situations, they work on company profitability, stability, and use the resources they distribute to make the company more successful in the long term. 

The most famous quote is: "it is easy to fail to succeed rather than an excuse to succeed." 

The 7 Irrefutable. Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell

John Maxwell is one of the world’s foremost authorities on Leadership. John has trained millions of people and written over 50 books. Like many other authorities on Leadership, John would agree that Leadership is about Setting Direction, Aligning People, Motivating and Inspiring.  However, in his book “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” published in 2007, John breaks down leadership even further.

1. The Law of the Lid

It states that there is a lid on or limit to our potential that is determined by our leadership ability. As we grow our abilities as a leader, we automatically grow our ability to impact the world. If our leadership ability stagnates, so does our ability to make a bigger impact.

2. The Law of Influence

Influence is the power or capacity to produce a desired result. Maxwell refers to this law many times throughout the book. Simply stated it says that the true measure of leadership is influence- nothing more, nothing less. Influence is what helps fulfill the goals and dreams of the leader and without influence, a leader lacks the ammunition to reach the destination.

3. The Law of Process

Leaders are learners and their capacity to develop and improve their skills distinguishes leaders from their followers. The learning process is ongoing and a result of self-discipline and perseverance.  To quote Maxwell “If I need to be inspired to take steps forward, then I’ll attend an event. If I need to improve, then I’ll engage in a process and stick with it.” Maxwell asks the questions “What is one little thing you can do more of that would have a positive impact on your life or your business? And is there something you can stop doing that will have the same kind of impact?” Both are important as we strive to get a little better every day.

4. The Law of Navigation

Anyone can steer a ship but it takes a leader to chart the course carefully, seeing where they want to go and charting the most effective course to get there. This holds true for individual leaders and for leadership teams. To quote Maxwell “If the leader can’t navigate the people through rough waters, he is liable to sink the ship.”

5. The Law of Addition

The law of addition focuses on advancing others, not ourselves. Leadership is an act of service to others and the true leader focuses on creating value for others. The best place to serve is where we can add the most value to others.  Leaders add value to others by valuing others and relating to what others value.  True leaders ask “How can I serve?”  Because they are focused on service, it’s not so much about “What’s in it for me.”

6. The Law of Solid Ground

The solid ground is solid character, living with integrity, authenticity and discipline. Trust is the foundation of leadership. It is earned or it isn’t. Character is the source of trust. We build our character by being scrupulously honest, even when it hurts. To be authentic, we must be ourselves with everyone, not pretending to be something that we aren’t.  Discipline comes from doing what needs to be done whether we like it or not.

7. The Law of Respect 

We must be strong and worthy of respect if we want people to respect us, to have a high opinion of us and be willing to follow our lead, because people naturally follow people with leadership skills and traits stronger than they possess. Choosing those one wishes to follow is not accidental. People follow others who possess leadership traits they respect and admire and consider more worthy of respect than themselves.

7) Be an Adaptable Leader and Use Change to Your Advantage

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1. Practice mindfulness

2. Focus on things that matter

3. Develop your emotional intelligence

4. Empower yourself

1) Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness is the ability to adapt to change to your advantage. And that keeps going. That helps to know what changes are happening in our society or today's time, what we need to change and need to adapt accordingly to the current situation. Mindfulness helps to be aware and conscious about the current time and what type of things are happening surrounding you and what you need to accept.

Changes sometimes create some difficulties but always remember one thing, adapt to change yourself time accordingly. Or according to the current situation. This is the real quality of a real person. As you know today's time everyone has a profile on social media platforms, you know why? Just because people understand the potential of social media accounts and platforms. 

About practicing mindfulness and the actual meaning of it. If you understand that, it helps you in all aspects of life. to deal with all situations and how to handle that. The sign of becoming a great leader. And also it is called Leadership skills and Quality of good leaders. 

the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something. "Their mindfulness of the wider cinematic tradition"

a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

2) Focus on things that matter

The real quality of Becoming a great leader, self awareness about what things that matter, and where we need to focus in leadership. What things are good for your company employees and also good for your business, and what things really help you to maintain your brand value, products or services, and product quality as well. 

A great leader always focuses on important things that can help to achieve a high level of success in terms of the company. Example: improving products and services quality that customers want from the company. That helps to grow your business and it helps to keep your brand value in customers mind. 

3) Develop your emotional intelligence

Developing your emotional intelligence, it is also the good quality of a great leader to use emotional intelligence that you actually need, to take right decisions in leadership. 

A great leader, knowing the real use of emotional intelligence and where we need this quality to solve the problems. It also helps to handle all the situations calmly. That is the most important quality of a great leader. To handle all situations, even huge problems or minor problems.

This is the real meaning of emotional intelligence. If you really want to become a great leader, you need to develop your emotional intelligence as well. Emotional intelligence is the key to becoming a successful both personal and professional life. And to build good relationships with your customers and company employees. 

the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. "Emotional intelligence is the key to both personal and professional success"

4) Empower yourself

Empowering yourself, this is the no1 quality of every great leader. They always empower themselves, just because they know to use this ability and willingness, it helps to grow in your life personally and professionally. Good leader reads a lot of books about self-development and personal growth. Leaders always empower others and the team's success. 

"Change is a normal part of our lives, but it's uncomfortable for the vast majority of people because it makes them feel like they've lost control. Do you remember a time when you felt like things were being done to you that you had no control over? That's how they may feel now. In every way you can, let them know that you can relate to that." — Mary JoAsmus

”To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” — Winston Churchill

Adaptability skills examples

1. Leadership

Leadership is the ability to influence others, and expertise in that skill, so people follow you, and so on people help to achieve your goals and desires. Have a problem solving approach and add more  values to others lives. Dealings with circumstances and overcoming obstacles using their experience and intelligence. And making other lives better. 

Leaders are required to develop their future visions, and to motivate others and the organizational members to want to achieve the visions.

2. Emotional intelligence

Developing your emotional intelligence, it is also the good quality of a great leader to use emotional intelligence that you actually need, to take right decisions in leadership.

the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. "Emotional intelligence is the key to both personal and professional success"

3. Communication

Communication is also part of the good Leadership skills and adaptability skills of the great leaders. It is the way to communicate with others, and the way to understand others' feelings and emotions. A few of the top adaptability skills are communication, quick learning, problem-solving skills, organization, decision-making ability, resourcefulness, leadership qualities etc. 

4. Problem solving

Leaders are required to develop their problem solving skills and easily handle all situations and overcome obstacles. This is a quality required to become a great leader and it is also required in a good Leadership. A great leader before solving the problems, they understand the cause of that, then the high possibility they can solve the problems at all. 

5. Creativity

Leaders are also required to develop their creativity skills, most of the leaders having  the common skills of creativity. That helps to make them a great leader. Creativity is also part of the problem solving approach of good Leadership. 

6. Teamwork

Teamwork is also part of the adaptability skills of a great leader in Leadership. Support your team, and encourage others, that feels good by team members. Teamwork, Working with other people can be a challenge, as it requires adjusting to different working styles and accommodating different opinions, approaches and methods.

7. Critical thinking

Critical thinking is also the ability to help solve problems, the quality of a good leader in Leadership, and overcome obstacles. intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action, and solving the problems even if there are huge problems at all. 

8. Decision-making

Decisions making skills are also required to be a great leader in Leadership skills. The most common skills of all great leaders ever. According to situations, taking the right action, using their intelligence, and making the right decisions, you need to develop these qualities to be a great leader, the part of  good Leadership skills. 

9. Active listening

You need to develop this skill to become a leader. Active listening shows you are more attentive and ready to take a new direction, and developing your nonverbal communication skills can help you navigate changes, and the best quality of a good leader. 

Active listening involves full comprehension of what your coworker is explaining through both verbal and nonverbal cues. Improving your listening skills can help to achieve your goals and it will make you a great leader as well. 

8) 2 Types of Leadership 

• Democratic Leadership 

A democratic leader allows and even encourages others to participate in decision making, and helps employees to create big results and encourages good work and also he guides what they did wrong and right, employees always like them. 

They work for employee satisfaction but eventually they are unable to achieve companies goals and visions as expected by companies as compared to autocratic Leadership. Democratic leadership is good for achieving long term goals but doesn't achieve short term goals as well. As expected by companies. 

Any similarities in these leadership styles and the one in your company? Do you see some similarities And do you recognise yourself as one of these leaders?

Yes of course! I'm also a great leader, and I'm a combination of autocratic and democratic leadership, and also I have great leadership skills and Qualities. That makes me a great leader. 

These styles of leadership are a great way to realise what works and what doesn't in your company. It helps you to know the outcomes you want to achieve. And helps to achieve companies goals and visions. This type of leadership is good for companies growth and visions in a short term achievements.

Each and every leadership style encourages different types of performances so it’s good to know what one works best for you. What I have experienced, to build both leadership qualities, if you really want to be a great leader and want to become highly successful in leadership. 

• Autocratic leadership is the opposite of democratic leadership. About this leadership style, the leader makes decisions without taking input from anyone who reports to them. They are good to achieve short term goals, and make the company more profitable and focus on stability but employees don't like them.

Just because they take work hard from employees, they only focus on how companies make more profit and achieve short term goals as fast as possible. They work for companies and don't work for employees.

This Leadership style is most useful when a business needs to control specific situations, and difficulties, not as a standalone leadership style.

Why this leadership style works for businesses:

Autocratic leaders follow strategies strongly and directives with absolute focus on goals, and short term visions. This type of leadership is mainly focused on results, and clarity can lead to better performance in terms of success, achievements, and profitability by the teams. 

It's more efficient because employees aren't consulted before a change in direction. Instead, they're expected to adhere to the decision at a time and pace stipulated by the leader. 

Why this leadership style is good for the team:

This type of leadership is most effective when a company is making difficult decisions, and other types of difficulties and challenging situations to handle them most effectively. This type of leadership style gives employees a clear sense of direction. It can also make up for a lack of experience on a team. 

Potential challenges for leaders with an Autocratic Leadership style:

Most of the organizations today can't sustain such a hegemonic culture without losing employees. It can lower morale and creative problem-solving and they have more potential and abilities to deal with any situations and difficulties as well. 

Just take it as an example of this could be when a manager changes the hours of work shifts for employees without consulting anyone.

Other challenges with autocratic leaders include:

• Intimidation
• Micromanagement
• Over-reliance on a single leader
• Different leadership styles favor different traits, with the most popular shown in this employee survey graphic.

9) 7 definitions of Great Leadership

An effective leader possesses the following characteristics: self-confidence, High Self-esteem, strong communication and management skills, creative and innovative thinking, perseverance in the face of failure, willingness to take risks, openness to change, adopt changes fast  and level headedness and reactiveness in times of crisis.

10) Leadership in Management 

Leadership in management, about leadership, is the capacity of a company's management to set and achieve challenging goals, company visions, and take fast and decisive action when needed, outperform any competition, and inspire others to perform at the highest level that can be possible for a business,  And fulfilling the company desires accordingly.

11) Download Leadership PDF

12) Recommended Book for Leadership

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

Short intro about John C. Maxwell: John Calvin Maxwell is an American most famous author, speaker, and pastor who has written many books, primarily focusing on leadership. Titles include The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. His books have sold millions of copies, with some on the New York Times Best Seller List. Maxwell finds the laws of great leaders, while also guiding readers through the 21 universal laws of successful leadership and qualities of a good leader. 

Highly Recommended Book for Leadership: this is one of my favourite books ever for Leadership. In this book the author deeply defined the universal laws about Leadership, and qualities of a good leader with examples, and how we can learn and apply them and become a great leader. It is highly recommended for entrepreneurship. Even if it doesn't matter if you are not from a business background, or middle class family, this book really helps to teach you about leadership skills and qualities. And make you a great leader ever. 

Why You Should Read It: it’s ranked as one of the great leadership books of all time. His books have sold millions of copies, the best seller book ever for entrepreneurship, New York Times listed in Best Seller book. Maxwell finds the laws of great leaders. This book is really helpful for Entrepreneurs, executives, and managers who find Maxwell’s advice useful because it’s more practical than theoretical advice and easy to follow. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership book, it also helps to make you a great leader. Additionally, the book is more beneficial because it offers plenty of ideas on how to develop these leadership qualities in your life. 

Conclusion

Over-all conclusion of this blog post, today you learned many things about leadership. definition of leadership, how to be an adaptable leader and use change to your advantage. Today you also learned about leadership strategy, leadership skills, qualities of a good leader, why is leadership important? characteristics of leadership, 2 types of leadership, adaptability skills examples, the 7 Irrefutable. Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell, Leadership in management and more details about leadership.