To be a leader, is more than just a position. It is more than a nice sounding title that comes right after your name on a door sign, company directory or an organization chart. For sure, titles like General Manager and VP Marketing have a nice ring to it - especially when it is under your name - but there is more to leadership than just the position - and people with these titles have to work extra hard to deserve these positions. There is an extra load on their shoulders to prove that they are capable of effective leadership.

An effective leader has to prove him worthy of the position. You must prove that you can lead, which means you have to go the extra mile. When in a position of leadership, it is no longer about time you clocked in or effort that went into your work; but the results you are able to achieve. You have to show you can get the job done, get the results needed, regardless of how. This raises your credibility as being capable of effective leadership.

A part of effective leadership is also to set clear goals. A person without a goal is like a ship without a destination. You might wander aimlessly, going where the wind and tide will take you. You have to take control and map your destination in a clear goal. Another trait of effective leadership is also to be an effective motivator. You are able to make people contribute, participate, and work towards a goal. But most importantly, you are able to make them do so willingly and with passion. Lead in a democratic way; encourage everyone to speak their mind and assure them that everybody's opinion shall be heard and respected. A well motivated team is a highly contributing team.

In effective leadership, you have to let people know that you mean business. If you work around a set of rules or guidelines, these have to be observed and if you are the person who has to deal with subordinates who are remiss in this aspect, you have to do so in the best possible manner. Be professional, not personal; be objective and not subjective. Stick to facts and not how you feel. Make it clear that rules are rules, and they apply to everyone, even you.

No one is perfect. People have limitations. Each person has his own area of specialization. You have to be reasonable when setting expectations for what a person or a team can accomplish. With effective leadership you have to encourage your team to push limits but at the same time, know what is reasonable and what is not. Ultimately, an effective leader is able to motivate people or a team, to overcome their weaknesses or outperform their own known limits.

This may sound so simple, but so many leaders fail to give due credit to members of a team that are deserving of such acknowledgment. A great trait of effective leadership is to always recognize performance, both privately and publicly. If a person however struggles with a task, and you are aware that the person is indeed trying his best, give that person a little support to boost confidence. This will make him try harder to accomplish what is expected of him.