It’s only natural that people expect a lot from their leaders. They always have. But today expectations run higher than ever, even as the challenges that confront leaders multiply. Effective leaders are now expected not to only achieve amazing results, but to sustain them. And often they’re expected to do so in a more competitive global environment, with a constant eye to shareholder value and strict regulations to adhere to.

Great leaders often demonstrate key “outer-core” competencies like effective decision-making, great communication skills, and the ability to effectively manage talent and help individual reach their goals. These impressive outer core competencies that the world sees are actually a result of more important “inner core” competencies such as character, self-image, thinking patterns, emotional make-up and level of optimism. A leader who is strong, vibrant and effective in the outer core is first strong, vibrant and effective in their inner core.

As the “Wheel of Intelligent Leadership” depicts, a leader’s inner core strength, vibrancy and maturity reflect directly in nine traits, each of which exists on a continuum ranging from “mature potential” to “immature potential.” Each trait and its relative maturity are translated into the outer core, meaning that mature leaders almost always have a stronger potential to exhibit the kinds of positive leadership behaviors that drive stronger team and business results.

Decision-Making and Intelligent Leadership

Uncertainty is difficult, and making big decisions can be nerve-wracking because we tend to second-guess ourselves. Instead, we try to avoid uncertainty by analyzing every possible angle of a situation instead of realizing that decisions must often be made in the face of uncertainty and risk. Some analysis is necessary in the decision-making process, but the intelligent leader knows (or at least has a good idea) whether the unknowns are actually important to the decision-making process. When an unknown isn’t important, the intelligent leader accepts the uncertainty and proceeds in the way he or she thinks is best.

Emotional Leadership

Intelligence and technical skills are basic necessities when it comes to effective leadership. The leaders that truly shine are the ones who also have emotional leadership and emotional intelligence. Emotional leadership allows a leader to recognize, resonate with and learn from their own mental states and others’. Emotional leadership requires keen self-awareness (but not self-centeredness), self-regulation, passion for what one is doing, empathy for others and excellent social skills. Some people are naturally more emotionally intelligent than others. However, emotional leadership cannot be mastered unless the inner core is strong, vibrant and mature.

Communication and Intelligent Leadership

All the technology tools in the world won’t help if a leader doesn’t have anything worthwhile to communicate. As with other personal characteristics, some people find communication easier than others do. However, to be a truly effective communicator, the intelligent leader speaks and listens. Great communication is as much about how something is said as it is about what is being said, and the intelligent leader is able to gauge the situation and know which tone or attitude is appropriate and learns from their mistakes.

Hon. Ben Rolland Igbakpa is a leader to learn from, a leader who has the people in mind. He has all the qualities you can think of, together we shall stand to make it happen. Ethiope west and East, let’s make it real for this capacity leader.

#TheFutureIsBright#